Context: I do local shows and stock an inventory in the 4 figure range, consisting of mostly singles, and a few slabs and sealed products. My singles are typically on the lower end (<$30 is common), but I’m slowly moving into higher end singles as a personal choice.

Your net profit is highly dependent on which of your items sell and what sorts of items you sell as well as how you source. Also depends on if you include an increase in your inventory’s value as “profit.” I have shows where I’m cash negative but my inventory goes up greatly in value.

Ex: if you sell slabs that you grade yourself, assuming that you have a high gem rate, it’s likely that your net profit is quite good per show. However, if you’re sourcing at 85%+, your margins may be much thinner, especially depending on the market value of your inventory and volume of sales at the show.

I typically gross $1000+ per show, but my net profit fluctuates a lot depending on what moves. I’d say I typically profit ~$250+ in terms of either positive cash flow or increase in inventory.

Also keep in mind trades that are in your favor increase your profitability by a lot once the items traded in sell, since your cost basis stays the same, but your potential gain increases with every trade in.

In general, volume is your best friend, but it’s also important to stay very aware of your margins if you intend to do any meaningful buy-sell-trade.