PrintIt's not just Beanie Babies anymore: eBay has established itself as a legitimate distribution channel for all manner of goods. More and more companies now view online auctions as a way to reach new customers, and eBay created its Store program to meet the needs of these businesses. And the popularity of eBay Stores has begat third-party solutions for managing your eBay Store.
EBay's business services, including the eBay Store program, allow sellers to increase sales and gain additional exposure. As an eBay Store seller, you get your own customizable "storefront," discounted listings that last longer than regular eBay listings, cross-promotion placements on your item pages, the ability to send customized emails to your buyers, monthly sales reports, and much more.
The popularity of the Store program has given rise to firms that specialize in helping sellers make the most out of their eBay stores. EBay encourages Store owners to take advantage of these consultants, and even lists them in the eBay Solutions Directory.
One such service is As Was, a full-service consulting firm specializing in eBay and other online sales channels. From training to templates to marketing advice, As Was has tools to help you sell smarter on eBay.
If you have spent much time on eBay, you have no doubt seen eye-catching Flash-based Vendio Galleries. The Gallery provides enlargeable, scrolling pictures of your other auctions, and cross-promotes your other store items during the checkout process. Their Customer Manager product lets buyers opt in to receive email newsletters you can use to promote your eBay Store.
Andale offers similar services for eBay stores. Andale Store tools allow sellers to create their own custom online storefronts, manage various transactions, and distribute items to eBay and other online sales sites. Andale Store provides display themes and gallery options for products, as well as tools to optimize reach to target users. Andale offers reports to help sellers analyze the effectiveness of their stores and fine-tune their return-on-investment, and an easy-to-use email platform to manage all communication with potential buyers.
If you have opened an eBay Store — or are thinking about it — you would do well to investigate all the third-party options available to help you manage your Store. They are a relatively inexpensive way to help you not only sell more, but to sell smarter.