July 21, 2005
Updated: 08:44 AM EDT
New Study Reveals 724,000 Americans Rely on eBay Sales for Income; eBay, U.S. Postal Service Launch National Tour to Help Entrepreneurs Turn Dreams Into Reality.
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)----Entrepreneurs in record numbers are setting up shop on
eBay (Nasdaq:EBAY), according to a new survey conducted for eBay by ACNielsen International Research, a leading research firm. More than 724,000 Americans report that eBay is their primary or secondary source of income. In addition to these professional eBay sellers, another 1.5 million individuals say they supplement their income by selling on eBay, according to the July 2005 survey.
In the first six months of 2005, eBay members in the U.S. sold merchandise worth approximately $10.6 billion.
In order to support this growing economic force, eBay and the United States Postal Service have teamed to create an innovative educational opportunity that brings online selling expertise and experience to neighborhoods across the country: the eBay Day Small Business Tour. eBay sellers overwhelmingly use the Postal Service for their shipping needs.
Based on the results of the new ACNielsen International Research survey, the number of eBay entrepreneurs in the U.S. has increased 68 percent since the last time a comparable study was conducted in 2003. That study indicated that 430,000 Americans at the time were making some or all of their income selling on eBay.
"eBay's impact on job creation in the U.S. has been tremendous, and the health of our nation's economy depends on employment," said James K. Glassman, resident fellow, American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, who has analyzed the survey results. "A considerable amount of jobs have been created and enabled through eBay in the last few years, making it an important employment creation engine that many never considered just five years ago. The potential for entrepreneurs to realize success through eBay is significant."
eBay Day Small Business Tour With U.S. Postal Service
The eBay Day Small Business Tour provides free, fun and informative events, hands-on training, resources and education for entrepreneurs at U.S. Post Offices in eight cities during the next eight weeks.
"In just 10 years, eBay has become the destination for Americans pursuing their visions of entrepreneurship," said Bill Cobb, president of eBay North America. "We're proud to play a central role in small business development in the U.S. and around the world. Teaming up with the U.S. Postal Service, we're now bringing the eBay opportunity to people right where they live. It's exciting to think that many of them will go on to build thriving businesses, create jobs and fuel their local economies -- while achieving the satisfaction of turning their vision into reality."
Attendees will receive one-to-one advice from eBay education specialists on how to build their businesses, and attend presentations to learn about selling on eBay and shipping products to customers using the U.S. Postal Service. The dean of eBay education and author of The Official eBay Bible, Jim Griffith, will be available in select markets to share tips and tricks. In addition, there will be experts on hand from Entrepreneur Magazine, giving aspiring small business owners advice and insights to help them turn their entrepreneurial dreams into reality.
"We are committed to continuing a long history of helping small business owners succeed by making it easier for them to take advantage of the Postal Service's mailing options to maximize their business opportunities," said John E. Potter, United States Postmaster General and CEO. "Hundreds of thousands of people have come to eBay to make a living and to start their own businesses. We are delighted to help them grow by offering a variety of shipping and business solutions."
Additional survey findings include:
-- 58 percent of Americans say they've dreamed of starting a business and becoming their own boss.
-- The most common reason for wanting to start a business is to increase one's personal income (66 percent of respondents), followed by increased independence (63 percent).
-- The primary barriers to starting a business are insufficient financial resources (cited by 49 percent of respondents), and satisfaction with their current situation (29 percent).
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