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Ebay and Etsy: An Ideal Seller’s World for the Small Business Owner

Posted on June 13, 2012   by Ping Tsai - SEO Analyst

The increase in use of e-commerce websites such as Ebay.com and Etsy.com has been astronomical in the past 10 to 15 years. Ebay.com, an online auction and shopping site that gives buyers and sellers all over the world a medium over which to carry out business transactions, has seen recent growth due to the focus on fixed-price business accounts. Similarly, sellers on Etsy.com, which found a niche in handicraft or vintage items, have also experienced increased online sales in comparison to offline business. This all bodes well for small and medium-sized businesses with products and services to offer consumers.

The Benefits of Using Ebay and Etsy

For consumers who are looking to buy something specific or unique, these sites can prove to be a valuable source of vast product options. Ebay showcases a broad variety of goods and services, from collectibles and electronics to internet domain names, vehicles and other obscure or miscellaneous items that might be more difficult to find in stores. Etsy lists more unique, handmade items that are also not widely available in retail outlets.

For businesses that have something to sell and simply need a place to sell it, Ebay and Etsy are ideal platforms. This may hold true particularly for businesses that offer specialty items or services since they can get a virtual storefront without having to invest in the startup or overhead costs that traditionally come with a brick-and-mortar space. This means that higher profit retention rates are possible for businesses that choose to operate through these online market sites. It also means that a larger audience of potential buyers can be reached with minimal effort on the seller’s part, thereby also increasing chances for revenue to be earned.

Opening Storefronts on Ebay and Etsy

Both Ebay and Etsy allow businesses as well as individual sellers to list their goods through a personal storefront on the website. A business can open an “Ebay Store” for a monthly subscription fee. Having an Ebay Store provides the owner with a number of added features, customizable details, up to 5,000 listings per day and much more. Ebay sellers are charged an insertion fee for each listing depending on the initial dollar amount and also a Final Value Fee which is a percentage of the total amount of the sale.

Etsy has its equivalent to the Ebay Store by giving sellers the option to set up a “Shop” where they can list multiple items. However, the Etsy Shop is free for owners and provides a centrally organized and visually appealing location for all products. The catch? Etsy charges a general fee of 20 cents for each listing with a final transaction fee of 3.5% of the item price. Etsy Shop owners can also customize their storefront with a name, banner and personal announcement.

Setting up stores on both Ebay and Etsy is relatively simple to do. Businesses need only to register for an account with a valid email address and provide a credit card for verification purposes. Not only is the process of selling on these sites easy and straightforward enough for anyone to do but the potential payoff can be quite lucrative if sellers are able to generate numerous sales from their storefronts. Businesses benefit from the mass exposure and low startup costs, creating an ideal buying and selling environment for all.