Executive
Summary of Press Release - Copyright ipip Technologies
The eBay(tm) marketplace that is perceived by some as being
a place for trading Yugioh Cards(tm), is quickly evolving
as a significant business to business marketplace. Many
analysts were caught by surprise by eBay(tm)'s growth last
year in this area. In 2003 it is estimated that $2 billion
in global gross merchandise sales was transacted. With 430,000
full and part-time sellers on eBay(tm) as of February of
2004, this is a marketplace worth considering for every
online business. The "Wholesaler's" section on
eBay(tm) is an example of the new products and services
that eBay(tm) is adding to address this significant trend.
Press Release
Many Small Businesses Come to eBay in Record Numbers; eBay
Announces New Services and Campaign to Address Its Growing
Community of Small Businesses
Businesswire, Monday, February 23, 2004 at 08:02
SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb 23, 2004 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Small
businesses across dozens of industries -- from accountants
and jewelers to photographers and restaurant owners -- are
coming to the eBay (Nasdaq:EBAY) marketplace to access the
equipment, supplies and resources they need to start, operate
and grow their businesses. As a result, business buying
on eBay increased to an estimated $2 billion in global gross
merchandise sales in 2003, compared to $1 billion in 2002.
In addition, small businesses are selling on eBay in record
numbers. Today, there are more than 430,000 sellers on eBay.com
selling full-time or part-time, compared to 150,000 reported
by eBay previously."Members of our community are evolving
the way they utilize eBay, proving that our marketplace
is just as relevant for small business use as it is for
personal use,"said Meg Whitman, president and CEO of
eBay."eBay has become an important destination for
small businesses. Here, they can discover amazing business
buying opportunities that can help them achieve success."As
examples, Judy Branch, owner of Precision Copy in Southern
California, needed to purchase copier equipment and supplies
to run her business. She turned to eBay and spent approximately
$30,000, but estimates that her savings equaled more than
$90,000. With the money saved, Judy bought new cars for
herself and her husband. Marsha and William Pater, owners
of Pater Tool Supply near Chicago, wanted to expand their
business when they decided to try selling their industrial
tools on eBay. Today, the Paters run more than 500 item
listings on eBay a month, making approximately $10,000 in
monthly sales. Selling on eBay has given Marsha Pater flexibility
to leave her other job and spend more time with her husband
to grow their business.
eBay brings together all business-related item listings
under one destination at www.ebaybusiness.com, which was
launched January 2003. Today, there are more than one million
business-related item listings on eBay.com, compared to
500,000 a year ago.
New Services for eBay's Small Business Community
To further meet the needs of its small business community,
eBay is adding new services that help address issues small
businesses often face, including improving cash flow, hiring
and shipping.
The new services include: equipment leasing and financing
provided by Direct Capital, employment services through
Monster.com, and greater integrated shipping solutions through
the U.S. Postal Service. These new services complement existing
ones, such as PayPal, which provides secure and cost-effective
online payment solutions for small businesses."eBay
is enabling small business owners to build a richer future,"said
Jordan Glazier, general manager of eBay Business."Whether
they are saving money on equipment and inventory, tapping
eBay as a cost-effective sales channel, or utilizing one
of the many services we offer, small business owners are
making eBay an integral part of starting, operating and
growing their businesses."eBay's"Dream Big. Save
Big."Campaign
As part of its new offerings for small businesses, eBay
also announced the roll out of its"Dream Big. Save
Big."campaign. Running from February 19 to April 15,
2004, eBay members will be able to access a series of online
small business workshops, articles and tips, as well as
community board discussion groups to foster best practice
sharing among small business users. The campaign also includes
weekly prize give-aways, discount offers from partners,
and a special grand prize contest.
The grand prize contest is a chance to win a $50,000 business-shopping
spree in the form of eBay Anything Points, a special eBay
currency deposited into users' PayPal accounts that can
be spent on virtually anything on eBay. To participate in
the contest, individuals simply need to answer the question,"If
I won $50,000, what would I buy on eBay to help my small
business, and how would it make my business dreams come
true?"To access the eBay Business marketplace, visit
www.ebaybusiness.com. Click on the"Dream Big. Save
Big."icon to access further details about eBay's small
business campaign.
About eBay
eBay is The World's Online Marketplace(R). Founded in 1995,
eBay created a powerful platform for the sale of goods and
services by a passionate community of individuals and businesses.
On any given day, there are millions of items across thousands
of categories for sale on eBay. eBay enables trade on a
local, national and international basis with customized
sites in markets around the world. Through an array of services,
such as its payment solution provider PayPal, eBay is enabling
global e-commerce for an ever growing online community.
SOURCE: eBay Inc.
CONTACT: eBay Inc.
Jennifer Caukin, 408-376-7432
jcaukin@ebay.com
Jamie Patricio, 408-376-6367
jamiep@ebay.com
or
Kaplow PR for eBay
Cathleen Cronin, 212-221-1713
cathleenc@kaplowpr.com
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Copyright (C) 2004 Business Wire. All rights reserved.
SOURCE Businesswire
02/23/2004
Companies or Securities discussed in this article:
Symbol
Nasdaq:EBAY
About ipip
Technologies, LLC
ipip Technologies is a specialized knowledge provider of
business information. The firm provides expertise in Internet
business, including online publications, entry-level consulting,
specialized research reports, and a framework for identifying
winning business strategies. The company's mission is to
level the playing field by providing startup, small, and
growing businesses with services comparable to those available
to the fortune 500.
