Turn Your Empty Suitcase Into Cash

One of the weavers Blue Abele met in Ecuador…who now forms an important part of her growing import-export empire.

You can make fantastic profits from global treasure-hunting…and Blue Abele, an attendee at IL’s first Import-Export Workshop last year, is proving it.

This story begins before I met Blue, when she brought some gifts back from Honduras for her family...

"They included mahogany bowls and Lenca Pottery--the fertility pottery of the Honduran people. Everyone loved the stuff. People were asking me to bring them more of the same and giving me money to do it. At this point, it never dawned on me to mark up the items.

"In January 2006, I went to Ecuador to study Spanish and explore. I found a town that did leather work--purses, backpacks, suitcases--and bought several bargains, including a large full-leather, lined backpack for $30. Later, I saw a similar one at the mall for $150. Another town had ridiculously cheap Alpaca sweaters, scarves, ponchos, and hats. When the weaver told me the prices, I thought 'either my Spanish is really bad or this lady is desperate.' Buying four sweaters, I got a discount without even trying to negotiate.

"I found lots of other things, to wood carvings, pottery, spices, etc. Upon my return, the same thing happened--my friends wanted them. I sold a few things--and felt guilty for marking them up 50%.

"I returned to Ecuador a month later with a list of requests and three empty suitcases...and came home with the suitcases bulging. Back home, I sold everything--with the help of a few craft shows--but this time marked items up 300%. By now, I was wondering what these things could actually sell for. I explored e-Bay, department stores, other craft shows…and what I discovered shocked me. I could mark up some of my items by over 1,000%.

"During all this time I was reading IL and heard about the first Import-Export Workshop in Panama. I arrived there with very small-scale ideas and thoughts along the lines that I just wanted to pay for my travels. By the end of the first day, my mind was reeling. By the end of the second day, I had BIG dreams.

"Since then, I have been to Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Ecuador, and Italy to start buying my inventory. Plus, I’ve had a website designed (http://www.bluenique.biz) which was up and running by December 15. Eight days later I had made $3,000...and these sales were only from my personal e-mail list. I am hooked."

Since then, Blue’s website has really taken off. Here are just some items she buys and resells. (Thanks for sharing these trade secrets, Blue.)

* Hand-blown margarita glasses from Mexico buy for $2; sell for $9-$12.

* Hammocks from Guatemala: buy for $15; sell for $80.

* Silver charms from Italy: buy for $5; sell for $45.

IL’s second annual Import-Export Workshop is set for July 12-14 in Nicaragua. Our first Workshop in Panama sold out quickly. We've tried to arrange more places for this event, but because of the field trip to the markets to practice what you learn (we’ll spend a full day hunting down artesania treasures), places are limited. Full details available soon, but if you want to book an advance place, write to events@internationalliving.com.

Blue has agreed to join me in Nicaragua, along with the experts and entrepreneurs who are living the import-export lifestyle in a big way. I do hope you’ll be there. One of my favorite "jobs" is reporting readers’ success stories...and I’d love the chance to tell yours, too.

Steenie Harvey
Roving Import-Export Reporter, International Living