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Gip, I am actually working on growing our business even more.  My husband works full time and I do work part-time outside the home.  Our goal has always been for this to eventually support us or carry a bigger load so my dh can take a job where he doesn't have to travel so much.  My efforts have helped but I didn't give it a 100% in 2009, now I am giving that and more, so we will see.

I just did the same thing Sofa.  I added the Facebook page and of course my friends began to join but just yesterday I had my first "unknown"  I was very excited, I know kind of silly, but it would be nice if that helps, free advertising is always a good thing .  I am like you, too much invested and really feel like this can grow again.  I went to that website grader and graded my site and am following their advise for my website, so we will see if that helps any.

Quote from Gip Plaster on Mar 13^th, 2010, 4:04pm:

 
At times, I wish my husband would go and get an outside job, with health insurance!  But, we're so comfortable here doing what we're doing....  We get up to get the boys to school @ 7, go to work, come home (1 minute away lol) for lunch and go back until school's out around 3.  We work about 6 hours a day from work (more from home answering emails, etc), plus we get to do things around the property - take care of cows or chickens, the garden (rapidly expanding), which are also all ways to make money (we sell eggs, we're going to sell cows soon and the garden will provide us food all summer).
 
That being said, we've really pulled in the reigns to spend less (less going out to eat and other entertainment) in efforts to keep our current situation working for us.  We don't necessarily have as much money as we would like, but we're getting by okay most of the time.
 
We're working harder than ever to grow our inventory and increase sales, but sales are lower than ever since we've become full time (spring of 2007).  We're adapting, but I would really hate to see them decrease any more than they already have.
 
It was so easy to make a living doing this just 2 years ago and now it's really becoming a struggle.  We're spending more and more on books and increasing inventory levels, but they just aren't selling at a very good rate.

Robin, I'm trying to remember which part of the michigan.gov site it was but it was when I was getting my business license I was looking up all of the laws on it. I discovered that I do not need a sales tax license since re-sale items are not eligible for sales tax collected on it. You could try trolling around http://www.michigan.gov and see if you can find it.  If I get a chance later on to go back and find it I will post the direct link.
 
I have had two sales as a result of the facebook page so far. The customers discovered it through friends and ordered from my Alibris link.  So it might not be doing much but a little is better than nothing!
 
Happy weekend, everyone!

This is what I find on Internet Retailing in Michigan.  
 
http://www.michigan.gov/statelicensesearch/0,1607,7-180-24786-81294--,00.html
 
Internet Retailing
 
Required State License(s):    
 
A sales or use tax license is required.   You may call the Michigan Department of Treasury at (517) 636-4660.
 
Personalized sales tax returns and a payment schedule will be mailed to within four to six weeks after the registration has been processed. If you have questions about this process, please call the Michigan Department of Treasury at (517) 636-4730.    
 
Other Possible License(s):   "Great Lakes States Tax Enforcement Pact." This compact is a mutual tax enforcement agreement designed to increase compliance with each state's sales and use tax laws. The member states (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin) have agreed to exchange information and cooperate in enforcement efforts.    
 
The use tax, is imposed on goods purchased tax free or at a lower rate in one state for use in another. If the use tax is not collected voluntarily by the seller, customers are required to remit the use tax to their home state [every year, millions of dollars in taxes legally owed to states are lost when individuals and businesses buy goods from out-of-state merchants who do not collect and remit the use tax and the customer fails to file and pay based on those purchases]. Use tax protects in-state sellers against unfair price competition from out-of-state sellers based solely on tax advantages. Forty-five states which impose sales tax also have a complementary use tax.
 
The states want you to voluntarily register to collect use tax from your customers. If you are selling merchandise into any of the Great Lakes states and aren't registered to collect the use tax, you and your customers may be hearing the "Compact." It also means you can notify the tax agency in your state or any of the five states if you are facing unfair competition due to a competitor's tax advantage.    
 
If you have a business presence for tax purposes ("nexus"), you are required by law to register. An example of an activity that creates nexus would be making regular delivery of goods and providing repair services to your customers in a state. Even if you do not have nexus, your registration will help stop the tax advantage that lures buyers across state lines. It will also prevent the inconvenience of having your customers contacted directly by state tax collectors seeking to collect use tax.    
 
The Great Lakes states are exchanging information on interstate sales. If you make sales into one of the states and don't register, you will likely be audited. If nexus is established, you will be liable for all unpaid use tax and interest thereon, plus substantial penalties. If you do not have nexus, your customers could be contacted for payment of use tax, penalty and interest.    
 
Further Information:  
 
Should comply with U.S. Postal Service regulations.    
 
Revised: 4/2005

Robin, I just checked and the information has disappeared from the State of Michigan's website. I am having my accountant check and see if a law has gone into effect that I am not aware of regarding taxing Used items.
 
As of 2009 taxing Used items was a no-no but now I found links to all sorts of new legislation saying that starting in 2010 Michigan WILL charge sales tax on re-sale used goods and internet sales (ala New York and Colorado.)
 
This could be the start of a big ol' mess.
 
Time to bust out the tax books and study!

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You got that right, "big ol' mess" is just the tip of the iceberg!  The Great Lakes States Tax Enforcement Pact states you need to collect and submit "use tax" for out of state customers (which is equal to state sales tax rates).  I know in some states, there is a catagory called "casual sales" which is not taxable, this is for garage sales, fund-raisers, etc.  It probably wouldn't apply to Ebay type sales.... I really don't know.  Maybe this is where you saw the "USED items such as books and other media are not subject to sales tax" clause.  
 
I've never heard of the Tax Enforcement Pact enforced on internet sales but it always has on large ticket items such as auto sales, boats, etc.  Regarding internet sales, I think the tax laws are already in place, it's just that the dots aren't connected yet, it's just a matter of time.  I think with the revenue crunch most states are in, it's just a matter of time until use tax collection is enforced and sales tax collection expands beyond intrastate retail sales.
 
I'm certainly no expert and plug along without tax consultants however I make sure not to tag my tax returns as revenue from internet sales.