“I quit my job and started opening loft spaces”: how to start a business with Avito

Avito is a platform where people decide on what terms to conclude deals. Here you can find what no one needs - some kind of stump painted with gold paint, or boxes of audio cassettes. Or you can accidentally come across something that collectors have been looking for for years - for example, wooden shells of the 19th century or a working sewing machine from Soviet Georgia.

We launched a project about people who often use Avito. told how he buys equipment at half the price, and a young couple from Voronezh - how he turned the process of getting rid of trash in the house into a hobby.

The owner of loft spaces AG Loft Artem has built a successful business with the help of Avito.

I am 32 years old and I own loft spaces in Moscow. I bought a bunch of antiques on Avito: from sewing machines to barrels, as well as used equipment and furniture at an affordable price.

Why I started using Avito

Before starting my own business, I worked for a corporation for 10 years. He rose to the position of deputy head of the department, received good money. But all my life I wanted to start my own business and felt the strength to do something really cool.

My division was closed, another opened. I had the opportunity to move further up the career ladder, but I decided to take advantage of the situation differently. I quit my job and started opening up loft spaces.

At this stage I was not very familiar with Avito - sometimes I bought equipment for myself. I sold iPad and every little thing, but I didn't like it very much: 100-200 rubles are not worth the wasted time. But when I started to pick things up for the premises, I figured out how to use Avito to my advantage.

How Avito helps you run your business

Looking for employees

Not everyone knows that on Avito people not only sell things, but also look for work. Some are not very good, some are good - as elsewhere.

It is convenient to search for people here: I went to the site, chose the "Job" section, clicked on the "Resume", typed the name of the vacancy - dozens of offers immediately popped up.

On Avito, I most often look for staff for events. I have permanent employees, but sometimes they are not enough. For example, I had to look for an assistant cook for New Year's corporate parties: a full-time one could not cope with the load.

When organizing a banquet, you can use the services of waiters, and then call the cleaning lady to hold another event in a clean room the next day.

Of course, no one guarantees that the applicant will suit you, but usually everything becomes clear at the first conversation. And you risk only 62 rubles for access to an employee's contact.

Buying used things

For lofts, I bought stylish and inexpensive furniture and appliances. A long time ago I found two projectors on Avito - both are still working. I bought several speakers. Buying used equipment often saves money.

With furniture it came out even more interesting: one day I came for one sofa for a loft space and found that the owners of a newly closed establishment were selling it. I found many other interesting things with them.

This is what I love about Avito - the opportunity to chat with the seller live and get more than I expected.

Buying building materials

On Avito you can even find tools and building materials that people have after repairs. I myself thought to save money, but in my case, the repair had to be done very quickly. It was inconvenient to dangle somewhere for a couple of bags of cement. But I know people who do this: they buy skirting boards, wallpaper.

In search of rare things for interior decoration

When I started creating lofts, I needed a lot of antiques. I didn't want to make rooms that look like apartments - I created lofts in the antique style. Buying furniture in specialty stores is not a cheap pleasure. In addition, often people in them sell what they themselves bought on the Internet from their hands, and just make money from it. Therefore, I myself began to look for furniture on Avito.

Usually you cannot go into someone else's apartment and take what you like. Avito is an opportunity to look into someone's world. You can visit a person, get to know him, look around - this process is interesting in itself. I buy furniture not for resale, but for interior design. Therefore, I love things with a history, I can tell guests something interesting about each of them.

The owners are happy to share the details: "I got this sewing machine from my grandmother, who lived in Georgia and moved in 1980 …" This is always imbued with.

Once I came across an advertisement for the sale of boxes of audio cassettes for 10 rubles apiece. I thought: "And who needs it?" But it turned out that very soon my premises were being rented for a disco-style event - just such boxes are needed. Due to the urgency and exoticism of the request, I was ready to buy them for 200 rubles each.

Even if you are putting up something very specific for sale, you will have to wait in the wings. Like this guy with the cassette boxes.

A Few Tips

Don't be limited to your city when looking for things … In Moscow, for example, the price is often raised, and in the regions people sell excellent, but unnecessary things for a pittance.
Check seller account before buying … I always try to take things from owners, not dealers. They are easy to figure out: if a seller has more than 1,000 ads in a category, then they are most likely selling things at market prices. Perhaps even more expensive.
Be skeptical of sellers who make appointments at the metro … If the person lets you go home, chances are they won't deceive you.
Ask for a discount … Avito is a free market where prices can almost always be negotiated.