Not so long ago anyone who wanted to go into business as a retailer had to overcome a lot of hurdles. In addition to having the capital to secure inventory and pay for shipping, they had to invest in an actual store. That involved not just renting or buying real estate, but paying for utilities, telecommunications, staff, insurance, and even advertising. Each of these elements was capable of derailing a business, if something went wrong.
Then came the internet and the development eBay. Suddenly it’s much easier to open and run a retail business online. Sellers still need access to an inventory and to shipping providers, but the rest is significantly streamlined and can be easily handled by a single individual or family.
Anyone who has inventory available to sell can sign up for an eBay account, customize their ebay shop design , and start selling right away. They will likely still need to do some form of marketing or advertising to bring customers to their store, but it is much cheaper to use press releases and social media to attract customers than it was to purchase old school ad buys. By capitalizing on the store design to create a unique brand and providing excellent service to buyers, a store can quickly build a reputation and a loyal base of customers who will regularly visit the shop and send their friends and family to buy as well.