Kathryn Moore looks at the global trading success of eBay and speaks to two Yorkshire businesses who trade via the site.THE worldwide success of online auction site eBay is an internet phenomenon which has created a global base of 157 million users and potential customers.
eBay's new "business centre", the site claims, makes it easier and cheaper for small firms to have an online presence without the need, or cost, of setting up their own website.The new service is a range of measures aimed at encouraging enterprise and entrepreneurship on the site as a marketplace for promoting goods and services.
All retailers need is internet access and a digital camera to photograph items for sale so they can be posted on the site.
It creates the ideal selling place for many businesses to gain additional customers or offload unwanted stock.
Marketing a new website and the cost of taking online payments can be a problem for small firms but by using eBay businesses can negate many of these costs by taking advantage of a fully marketed website and e-commerce facilities.A particular benefit is the opportunity for small businesses to sell stock to a potential international, as well as national, customer base.
Because there are so many people browsing the site's highways and byways, it's likely that someone will be interested in buying more or less anything on eBay," Mr Qadri adds.Dazzled by success of online tradingOne business "eBayer" has done so well from the site she plans to close her shop and concentrate on her internet ventures full-time.
She started selling excess stock on eBay in 2003 and has found it a great way of expanding sales and boosting revenue.