Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is a selling platform with a huge variety of offerings

 With categories including - but not limited to - clothing, electronics, garden gear, pet supplies, musical instruments, toys and furniture. You can find everything from wedding dresses to snooker tables, antiques to Crocs.

There are no selling fees to consider and the focus is on local, with most buyers collecting items, though delivery can be arranged, too. Payment and collection are arranged privately.

Just a toggle away from the Facebook newsfeed, Marketplace has the advantage of being part of the familiar Facebook app and desktop sites, so fairly intuitive to use for anyone with an existing account.

Businesses can get in on the action too, setting up a shop on Facebook and Instagram using Meta’s Commerce Manager tool and linking their shop directly to Marketplace. Having a shop allows customers to browse and purchase in-app, with Meta charging a processing fee for sales made on shops (businesses are not allowed to sell certain products, including event tickets, healthcare items and gift cards).

Stock answer

A Big Yellow self storage unit can be a great partner for a Facebook Marketplace venture. Having the space to store, sort and package products can help take your growing business out of the shed and on to the next level.

Keeping it local with Big Yellow means it’s easy to access the item when you’ve found a buyer - and secure access from early ‘til late means you can pick up and drop off whenever you need to. With 109 stores across England, Scotland and Wales, there’s a nearby storage unit where you can keep your stock safe.

There’s forklifting help for heavier items, and no long-term leases, business rates or extra charges to worry about. You can scale your unit size up and down as needed - with storage available in 20 different room sizes from just seven days duration.

Isobel Ridley, founder of sustainable clothing company Lavender Hill, uses Big Yellow to store, pack and issue orders. She says Big Yellow has been “fantastic since day one – clean and safe with really good security procedures. Flexibility is essential to start-ups like mine, who could never take the risk of a traditional 10-year lease on warehouse space – Big Yellow reduces the barrier to entry for businesses”.  

Compared to traditional warehouse space, Isobel notes that Big Yellow reduces her administrative time and costs: “Big Yellow handle  everything from electricity to security, and there’s always someone there to accept deliveries”.

Carve out your niche

With so many categories to choose from, Facebook marketplace is the place to develop your speciality. Crafters, for example, sell handmade items and some vendors offer personalised items like baby clothing, lunchboxes and party favours. There’s a market for bundles of craft supplies, with leather offcuts, yarn, beading kits and felting supplies on offer - even empty egg boxes, toilet rolls and glass jars! 

Whether you fancy selling vintage gear, collectable vinyl, bundles of baby clothes, water bottles or pre-filled party bags, simply stock up and start listing.

Upcycling

Facebook Marketplace is a brilliant place to sell upcycled furniture - and find the furniture to upcycle in the first place!

Use a Big Yellow unit to safely store furniture while it awaits its glow-up, then keep it safe (and out of the house) while it sells. Scalable unit size means there’s no need to pass up on that bargain mid-century sideboard crying out for a revamp just because you already have another two on the go.

Flipping genius

If you have a gift for spotting bargains at car boots, jumble sales and in charity shops but find yourself running out of space at home, consider self storage as a place to get organised and keep a rolling inventory as you build up your sales - your shed, garage and spare room will thank you.

Bulk buying and storing soon-to-be discontinued items is a clever tactic, with products often going up in value once they’re no longer available from the manufacturer.

Photo finish

A self storage unit can even double as a photography studio - make sure your Facebook Marketplace listings are eye-catching by investing in a decent light and backdrop to take professional-looking product shots with your phone.

Why do Facebook sellers love our self storage?

• No risk, short term contracts
• Run your business from your storage room.
• Plug in wi-fi, set up a printer and work from your laptop.
• Use the storage space for product photography.
• Your storage room is also great for live streaming.
• We accept deliveries when you are not there.
• You can drop off your outgoing packages to be picked up each day.
• Staff on site to help with mail.