MYSTERY ISLAND - Day by day, many travelers arrive upon the world of Neopia,
excited yet frightened, wondering what fortunes there are to be made on these
strange shores with their Neopets by their side. Like these brave souls, I took
my first step onto Neopia six months ago, eager to build a fortune and a name
for myself. And now, I am residing peacefully on Mystery Island, earning a steady
income selling Battledome items in my
shop.
Nerkkeal (my pet Bruce) would have wanted me to be humble, but I take a secret
pride in knowing that I own one of the most well-stocked Battledome item shops
in the whole of Neopia. The honour is great, for I had earned this fortune through
honest means, by toiling (at the games) day and night, and selling items at
profitable prices.
Now my young traveler, you can also be like me, if you are willing to work
hard. Here, I have packed my experience into ten gems of trading wisdom for
you. Follow these gems of wisdom, and they will be able to bring you the good
fortune that they have brought me.
Aquamarine is for… Adopt the Future Forward Pricing (FFP) strategy.
Selling an item may sounds easy, but it is not. The price that you sell must
be high enough for you to buy that same item to restock, and yet have a profit
made. Confused? Just remember this equation: Selling Price = Current Market
Price + Profit.
Garnet is for… Get items at their lowest prices. The lower the
price that you buy, the higher profit you can make by selling that item later.
You don't need a calculator to know this, right? By the way, prices change as
quickly as the weather here in Neopia. So do check market prices regularly.
Amethyst is for… Always remember to restock. So you have sold
your first item. (Give yourself a little pat on your back.) But before you decide
to treat your Neopet to a Slushie, remember to restock. Otherwise, you will
not have anything to sell later.
Diamond is for… Don't buy things that you can't sell easily.
So you have earned your first 1,000 Neopoints. Now you must decide: Should you
buy that Forest Cloak for 999 NPs, or should you buy Blue Healthshrooms that
many people may need after battling in the Battledome? You make the decision.
Ruby is for… Reduce on shop decorations. It takes time to download
your shop Web page for your customer. (Sad to say, I am guilty of breaking this
rule.) So unless your shop is meant to be a gallery, try to cut down on pictures,
backdrop, and music. Fast downloading always keeps a customer happy.
Opal is for… Only stock one item at a time. Try to sell a variety
of items. A customer would rather have ten different items to choose from in
your shop than ten choices of the same item. Keeping a light inventory also
enables you to switch easily to selling items that are hot in the market at
the moment.
Sapphire is for… Sell higher quality items. Some items naturally
command a higher price than others. (Check the difference between the prices
of a Chia belt and a Chia Stomper.) Customers are usually willing to pay more
for a higher quality item. But don't worry if you can't afford them at first.
Profit takes time to gather.
Emerald is for… Every customer counts. Now and then I would receive
Neomails from my customers telling me how expensive my items are on the market.
I would then check and adjust my prices accordingly. Learn to listen to your
customers, but never, never entertain people who ask for free items. They just
keep coming back.
Topaz is for… Try some marketing gimmicks. When I first started
out, I used to buy Rainbow Chia Pops and then sell them at 9 NPs in my shop.
This way, people were attracted to visit my shop, which I hope they would buy
some other items too. It doesn't hurt to try a marketing gimmick to boost sales
sometimes.
Pearl is for… Prepare to lose Neopoints sometimes. In my selling
career, I have made some spectacular five-figure losses along the way. (Buying
at too high prices.) But don't lose heart. It is part and parcel of the great
trading game.
Now that I have shared my experience with you, I hope you may be encouraged
to take the first plunge into being a Neopian trader like me. Once again, I
welcome you with wide open arms, my young traveler. Do enjoy your stay in this
fortune-laden world of Neopia. | 
