If you’re new here, I’m the auction guy you probably saw on Insta YouTube or X. You may have downloaded my Auction Starter Guide with the lists of all the auction sites and tips on getting started.
Thanks for being here Reader. Let's get right into it.
Welcome to part 3 — the finale of this series.
Missed Part 1 (small items)? Grab it here.
Missed Part 2 (big items)? Right here.
Now the question everyone has been asking me:
“Shannon, which one should I do?”
My answer?
It depends.
But I’m not going to leave you guessing.
Today, you get the Decision Matrix.
9 questions. A simple score. One clear verdict.
Text version next, and then an info-graphic for you to share below.
Grab a pen.
1. How it works
Answer each question honestly.
Give yourself the points listed.
Add them up at the end.
Your total tells you exactly where to start.
2. Storage space
A closet or spare room → 1 point
A garage or small shed → 2 points
A storage unit, warehouse, or commercial space → 3 points
3. Starting capital
Under $500 → 1 point
$500 to $5,000 → 2 points
$5,000+ → 3 points
4. Your vehicle
Compact car or sedan → 1 point
SUV or minivan → 2 points
Truck, van, or trailer → 3 points
5. Hours per week you can commit
Under 10 → 1 point
10 to 20 → 2 points
20+ → 3 points
6. Physical ability (be honest)
I can’t lift heavy stuff → 1 point
I can lift with help or a dolly → 2 points
I can move a couch up two flights of stairs → 3 points
7. Your local market
Rural or low-population area → 1 point
Suburban, mid-size city → 2 points
Dense metro with active FB Marketplace → 3 points
8. Shipping comfort
I love packing and printing labels → 1 point
I can do it, but don’t love it → 2 points
I’d rather do local pickup only → 3 points
9. Problem-solving brain
I want products that work out of the box → 1 point
I’m OK with light cleaning or minor fixes → 2 points
I love hunting down missing parts and making broken things sellable → 3 points
10. Risk tolerance
I need fast, predictable wins → 1 point
I can ride out some dud buys → 2 points
I trust the law of averages over the long haul → 3 points
Add up your score.
Now find your verdict.
9 to 15 points: You’re a Small-Item Seller 🎒
Your lane is handbags, watches, jewelry, health and beauty, phones, and Etsy finds.
You don’t need a warehouse. You need the right product and the discipline to research.
Remember Aviva from Part 1? She built a six-figure handbag business from limited space after joining the Mastermind.
That can be you. Start there.
16 to 21 points: You’re a Hybrid Operator 🔀
You’ve got enough space, capital, and flexibility to play both games.
Here’s the play: start small to build cash flow, then layer in bigger items as your confidence grows.
This is the path most of our top Mastermind members end up on. They don’t pick a lane. They build an engine.
22 to 27 points: You’re a Big-Item Flipper 🛋️
You have the space, the vehicle, the back, and the problem-solving brain.
Your unfair advantage is the stuff most people can’t touch — couches, appliances, outdoor furniture, rugs.
Remember Mike from Part 2? $60K in 12 months. Free couches.
Remember Melanie? 600 rugs out of her garage.
The big-item lane has less competition because it’s harder. That’s the opportunity.
One more thing.
Your score is a starting point, not a sentence.
Mike started with one couch before he made $60K. Melanie started with 1 rug and went on to sell 600.
They started with one question answered honestly, one item bought, and the willingness to make mistakes.
Size does NOT matter.
Taking action every single day does.
Ready to put your verdict into action?
Whether you scored a 9 or a 27, the fastest way forward is learning from people already doing it.
That’s what the $5 Reseller Mastermind is for.
Small-item sellers, big-item flippers, and hybrids — all in one room, sharing what’s working right now.
That’s it for this series. Save your score. Revisit it in 90 days and watch how the numbers shift as you grow.
Have a profitable week!
~ Shannon Jean
