| You have probably read dozens of articles about how | | | | searching eBay. What do you want to sell? To |
| you can make shedloads of cash from eBay with little | | | | whom? Why? Obtain goods to supply your market. |
| or no effort. I just hope that this article doesn't burst | | | | eBay or Google can be used as powerful tools for |
| the bubble . . . | | | | identifying possible suppliers. The internet has literally |
| That eBay is a phenomenon is a fact few could deny. | | | | thousands of suppliers bursting to sell their goods to |
| It is a child of its time and its originators were both | | | | you. Supply your customers. Use eBay's auction, |
| fortunate and astute in starting their business at a | | | | best-offer or buy-it-now tools to market your product. |
| period of intense expansion on the part of the internet. | | | | If you have done your homework correctly, you are |
| Since the advent of inexpensive broadband access | | | | off and running! |
| the use of the internet has exploded - I myself spend | | | | It's all going so well, isn't it? Well, maybe. Do not forget |
| several hours each day working the web - and this is | | | | some of the other aspects of running a real business. |
| the first year when online spending could overtake the | | | | And these are? |
| high street. So - is eBay a viable business option? | | | | Let's start with customer service. To many people, this |
| You bet it is. Having been part of a 'normal' business | | | | means 'complaints'. Rubbish. Customer service starts |
| for over fifteen years I can say that, for those who | | | | with the sale listing and means exactly what it says: |
| may have little or no business experience, eBay is an | | | | giving your customer - the one who chooses to buy |
| absolute gift. Consider a few services that eBay | | | | from your auction or eBay shop - the best service you |
| provide: | | | | can. Period. |
| Integrated selling and payment (Paypal) tools. Massive | | | | The Bottom Line: what's that? Simply put, that's the |
| exposure for the tiniest trader. Buyer and seller | | | | money left when you've paid everyone. Don't fool |
| protection - to some degree anyway. Marketing tools | | | | yourself by thinking you have only yourself to pay. |
| that would cost serious money to develop yourself. | | | | These are some others you have to pay:eBay - listing |
| Analysis tools that most accountants would sell their | | | | fees and final value fees. These can be significant, |
| mother to get. | | | | particularly if you use some of eBay's selling tools, |
| So it should be easy for anyone to become a | | | | especially their image listing options. It depends on the |
| millionaire on eBay! | | | | per capita value of the item you're selling. |
| Wrong. Business, as is said, is business. If you don't | | | | PayPal - don't forget it costs you to receive money. |
| understand business, you will struggle to make it on | | | | About 5%, in fact. In context, an online trading account |
| eBay. | | | | from a bank might set you back 2.5% to 3.5%. The |
| I'm not talking about the 'original' eBay dream of a | | | | difference is that with Paypal there are no setup costs. |
| community selling their unwanted goods to like-minded | | | | Again, this has to be balanced against your business |
| individuals. That business model, though still extant, is of | | | | turnover volume - there will be a point where PayPal is |
| utterly no use to anyone wishing to run an eBay | | | | no longer cost-effective. |
| business. Anyone launching on this premise will rapidly | | | | Carriage: an often-forgotten cost. This must be |
| grind to a halt as Aunt Agatha's attic rapidly empties | | | | factored in to ensure profit. Don't forget that carriage |
| out. So what's needed for success? | | | | doesn't just cost the price of a stamp! |
| Simple. Not easy, but simple. Any product-based | | | | Webhosts - do you have your own website? Are you |
| business, wherever it is run, whatever its trading arena, | | | | getting the best deal? |
| relies on the flow of goods and cash through it to | | | | To conclude this (far from comprehensive) article, I |
| survive. If you cannot source goods to sell, the | | | | would summarise an eBay business as being a great |
| business fails. If you cannot get paid for your goods, | | | | opportunity for those who have limited funds. The |
| the business fails. If you cannot sell your goods - the | | | | entry-level cost is so low that almost anyone can build |
| business fails. So how do you ensure the ongoing | | | | a business. Maybe you will have to start small - a lot of |
| success of your eBay business? | | | | businesses do - but with perseverance and a real will |
| Firstly, you run it like - a business. How do you do this? | | | | to succeed you can definitely have your own viable |
| Look at these points: | | | | eBay business - and the sky's the limit! |
| Identify your chosen market. This can be done by | | | | |