My first eBay Live! experience was memorable. I’ve been to Chicago before, but this was different, like going on a trip and touching down on planet eBay.
The convention center was exciting and energetic, awash in eBay colors and more importantly, eBay buyers and sellers.
It was great to see so many real, “live” eBayers from all over the country and from around the world.
Of course, I was particularly interested in the style purveyors. Miuccia Prada and her tie dyes have nothing on Uncle Joe. Just in time for the hot tie-dye trend, Uncle Joe was giving away $5 gift cards good on his site that specializes in tie dye. He himself was wearing a most fabulously vivid T as he whizzed around eBay Live! in his wheelchair.
I loved the ShoeMetro guy, Phuoc Huynh; he picked up an award that included a donation from eBay to his favorite charity, for their stellar footwear sales.
Listened in on a fascinating talk by some of eBay’s top sellers on how to improve sales. Ann Wood shared tips on what had made her store Willow Wear such a success.
I’ve bought gorgeous African necklaces from Africa Direct and there was Elizabeth Bennett, the owner, in the flesh. We had a chat and compared notes on the beauty of glass beads which actually originated in Venice – not Ghana nor South Africa nor Nigeria. Funny how the world works.
I also learned about how her business on eBay, AfricaDirect benefits craftsmen and women in these countries providing them with a small but invaluable income.
So many of eBay’s users are involved in giving back to the community. Stacie Sefton told me how she and her husband/partner took time from their business, BH Factory Outlet, to help when the devastating floods
hit their hometown of Cedar Rapids, IA.
Their business was affected too, but as of eBay Live! they were back on track and doing well as one of eBay’s top style sellers.
