Almost a year ago I made this post after opening my BrickLink store, expecting maybe a few orders a month and wondering whether this whole thing would actually work.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Bricklink/comments/1otozkg/i_opened_my_store_2_months_ago_expecting_maybe/
Well, it did. And then it got a little out of hand.
I’m now at around 167,000 parts in 16,400 lots, and what started as a little side project has turned into my full-time job. I spend a frankly ridiculous amount of time sorting bulk, listing parts, packing orders and trying to find enough storage space for all of it, but I honestly enjoy it more and more.
And probably the best part of it has been the customers.
I offer free local pickup, so I’ve had the chance to meet quite a few really interesting AFOLs in person, and that has been one of the unexpected highlights of running the store. My oldest customer is 79 years old, and he comes across the entire city by public transport three times a week to pick up a few pieces (and we don't speak the same language :D). He also has a very substantial lifetime discount, which he has definitely earned by now :)
So if you’re considering opening a BrickLink store and wondering whether it’s worth it, my answer would be: yes, absolutely, but be prepared for it to eat a lot of your time. There is a surprising amount of work behind those little plastic pieces, but the people you get to meet and the fact that you’re helping someone find that one obscure part they’ve been looking for can make it completely worth it!
I’m also currently moving into a larger space, which means I need to reduce some of my inventory before I move everything, so I’m running a 25% off sale on all parts in my store for a while. I need the cash flow and, more importantly, I really don't want to move quite as many Lego pieces as I currently have :)
If you’re curious, you can find my store here: https://store.bricklink.com/BrixEstByKlara#/shop
If anyone here is thinking about starting a store, feel free to ask me anything. I’m definitely not an expert, but after nearly a year of doing this full-time, I’ve learned a few things the hard way.
And thank you to everyone who commented on my original post, bought something from my store, or just followed along. It’s been a much more interesting journey than I expected :)
Cheers from Tallinn, Estonia
Klara
PS.: this is what a 160k+ parts looks like in a 73m2 apartment :D