Entrepreneurial eBay

I stand corrected! I’ve been saying in my “Entrepreneurship as a Paradigm Shift in Economic Development” talk that 500,000 Americans are making their living on eBay.

A new survey by A. C. Nielsen finds that it is now 724,000 who rely upon eBay as their primary or secondary source of income. eBay is a recent phenomenon, but is quickly becoming one of the main generators of jobs and businesses in the USA, and for the most part these businesses are flying under the radar screen of job statistics.

eBay has dropped barriers to starting new businesses and is a major reason that entrepreneurism is alive and well in the USA. These people are their own bosses. They work hard, innovate and figure out a way to make themselves successful. It is a spirit that is alive and well in this country.

With $83,000 worth of good traded every minute of the day, eBay is an incredible marketplace. Fourteen percent of these eBay sellers are people who’ve retired early to work full-time on eBay.

Two examples of internet businesses that I love to talk about are Dakota Cabin Quilts in Hettinger, ND (http://www.dakotacabinquilts.com/) and Bless My Bloomin’ Cookies in Enderlin, ND (http://www.blessmybloomincookies.com/). Both do over 50% of their business over the internet from very small towns in a sparsely populated area. They couldn’t survive without the internet, but have thrived by understanding it and selling all over the USA and the world with it.

My wife is now working on her second quilt from Dakota Cabin Quilts and I don’t believe will buy a quilting kit from anyone else. If you are a quilter try them out.