A Potential Customer Base of Millions
From July 2005
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The couple ultimately closed four locations and settled into Sunrise Mall. “With workers’ comp issues and putting out fires, we couldn’t focus on the business,” Harris says.
He began investigating eBay in 2001. “We started on eBay in its early days because we saw its potential to be really big,” he says. “We sell mostly footwear and leather apparel. But eBay is a funny animal. The price has to be right to make it work.”
‘Good Deal’ a Must
Much like Sacramento Sky Ranch, Harris says his sales work best on clearance and end-of-season items and he relies on eBay to liquidate his overstock. Not only does the strategy work, but the online exposure generates “a lot of repeat business,” he says.
“We don’t have any problems with market saturation. People have an idea of what they’re looking for when they come to eBay, but you have to absolutely have a remarkably good deal.”
But not everything is roses with the online service. “We’ve had problems with bidders who don’t pay,” complains Harris. “I’m disappointed eBay isn’t clamping down on this.”
Sunrise Leather now credits 20 percent to 22 percent of its sales directly to eBay. Two of the store’s eight employees are trained to assist with the eBay listing and shipping process.
“You can’t beat Home Depot and Wal-Mart head-to-head,” says Harris, but selling on eBay “is the one advantage the little guy has over the big guy.”
Continued...
He began investigating eBay in 2001. “We started on eBay in its early days because we saw its potential to be really big,” he says. “We sell mostly footwear and leather apparel. But eBay is a funny animal. The price has to be right to make it work.”
‘Good Deal’ a Must
Much like Sacramento Sky Ranch, Harris says his sales work best on clearance and end-of-season items and he relies on eBay to liquidate his overstock. Not only does the strategy work, but the online exposure generates “a lot of repeat business,” he says.
“We don’t have any problems with market saturation. People have an idea of what they’re looking for when they come to eBay, but you have to absolutely have a remarkably good deal.”
But not everything is roses with the online service. “We’ve had problems with bidders who don’t pay,” complains Harris. “I’m disappointed eBay isn’t clamping down on this.”
Sunrise Leather now credits 20 percent to 22 percent of its sales directly to eBay. Two of the store’s eight employees are trained to assist with the eBay listing and shipping process.
“You can’t beat Home Depot and Wal-Mart head-to-head,” says Harris, but selling on eBay “is the one advantage the little guy has over the big guy.”
Continued...
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