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UPC Newsletters>
724,000 Americans Rely on eBay Sales for Income
September 1, 2005
New Study Reveals 724,000 Americans Rely on eBay Sales for
Income
U.S. Postal Service Launch National Tour to Help
Entrepreneurs Turn Dreams into Reality
San Jose, CA, (July 21, 2005) – Entrepreneurs in record
numbers are setting up shop on 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 business, 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).
The eBay Day Small Business Tour will visit major U.S.
cities this summer, including:
Atlanta, GA (August 31 – September 2)
Miami, FL (September 14-16)
The events will take place at local post offices in each
city. In each market, the traveling eBay "Sell-It-Ship-It"
bus workshop, and the "Home Office Lab," a mobile home
office set-up, will be stationed outside of the post
offices to provide presentations, information, and
guidance. And a customer service booth will offer in-person
answers to general questions about selling on eBay and
shipping with the USPS. Entrepreneurs and small business
owners will learn how to package a product, insure it,
label it and ship it using a number of products from the
Postal Service that include scheduling a carrier pickup at
no extra charge.
For more information about the USPS and eBay small business
tour, visit www.ebay.com/ebayday.
Survey Methodology
Two national surveys were conducted online by ACNielsen
International Research for eBay:
A nationally representative survey among online population
in the U.S. where 2003 respondents were surveyed from July
1 to 11, 2005. The survey has a margin of error of +/-
2.2%.
A nationally representative survey among eBay sellers who
have listed at least one item on eBay in the past 12
months. 2002 respondents were surveyed from July 1 to 11,
2005. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 2.2%.
# # #
About the U.S. Postal Service
Since 1775, the Postal Service has connected friends,
families, neighbors and businesses by mail. It is an
independent federal agency that visits 142 million homes
and businesses every day and is the only service provider
delivering to every address in the nation. The Postal
Service receives no taxpayer dollars for routine
operations, but derives its operating revenues solely from
the sale of postage, products and services. With annual
revenues of $69 billion, it is the world's leading provider
of mailing and delivery services, offering some of the most
affordable postage rates in the world. The Postal Service
delivers more than 46 percent of the world's mail volume --
some 206 billion letters, advertisements, periodicals and
packages a year -- and serves seven million customers each
day at its 37,000 retail locations nationwide.
About eBay
eBay is The World's Online Marketplace®. 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.
About ACNielsen International Research
ACNielsen International Research is the customized research
division of ACNielsen in the U.S. ACNielsen is the world's
leading marketing information company. Offering services in
more than 100 countries, the company provides measurement
and analysis of marketplace dynamics and consumer attitudes
and behavior. Clients rely on ACNielsen's market research,
proprietary product, analytical tools and professional
service to understand competitive performance, to uncover
new opportunities and to raise the profitability of their
marketing and sales campaigns. 
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