1. What is your occupational background?

I worked in jewellery industry for about 15 years.

2. How did you get started on eBay?

I first visited eBay.com in 2003, intrigued by the idea of e-commerce which was still new and unknown among Thais at that time. As English is not my first language, I spent the first three months learning how to trade on eBay while conducting research on demand & supply of jewellery in the online marketplace.

As I have many years of experience in Thailand’s jewelry & gemstones industry. I decided to purchase gemstones from a trusted overseas seller and resold them to local jewellery makers. The profits generated encouraged me to open my own eBay store, switching my role from buyer to seller.

I spent the first year selling small gift items such as souvenir magnets, loofahs and keepsakes crafted by local artisans before selling items in the Jewelry & Gemstones category on eBay.

3. How long have you been buying and selling on eBay?

I started as a buyer in 2003 and have now been with eBay for about 6 years.

4. What are you currently selling on eBay, and on which eBay sites?

Currently, I sell necklaces and hand-made accessories to customers around the world on eBay.com and eBay.co.uk.

6. Where do you source your products from?

These products can be locally found in Chiang Mai, in Northern Thailand.

7. How much do you earn per month? (Or how many items do you sell each month?)

I am unable to reveal the amount of sales achieved but I can say that eBay accounts for one third of my total income, despite the low investment. Most of the overheads come from the cost of the product itself and manpower. Hence it is a good source of income with unlimited sales opportunities.

8. Are you satisfied with the amount you are earning?

Yes, I am quite satisfied with the income I earn from eBay.

9. How do you set competitive pricing for your products?

I usually set competitive prices along with the market. I do not believe in price wars just to draw in the customers because the business will not last long with this strategy. Additionally, I try to source for products that are low in costs but are of high quality.

10. Any useful tips to share?

I do a lot of research on similar products to find out how others are doing on eBay. I find out where the products are located, the pricing, type of designs, etc… We have to keep abreast of a rapidly changing economy, and must adapt ourselves, or lead the change.

11. Any advice for entrepreneurs who are keen to start an eBay online business?

You should first familiarise yourself with eBay and then determine the products you would like to sell. Do research on the demand and supply of your product on eBay.
You should also try to differentiate your product from competition. It is best to sell products that you are very familiar with or that you can source at low costs.

Finally, like all other businesses, you must be patient and keep trying until you succeed. You may not get a successful sale in the first try. Do not be discouraged since you can always re-list the item. Be positive and learn from your experience and adjust your sales strategy accordingly.

It is important to note that if your product does not sell after several attempts, it may mean that there is no demand for it.

12. In your opinion, what are the benefits of selling on eBay as compared to other e-commerce sites?

• I got into e-commerce by selling on eBay because it is the most well-known e-commerce site in the world.
• With eBay, I can sell internationally to potentially millions of buyers worldwide. eBay is also a trusted online marketplace with policies in place to ensure a safe trading experience for buyers and sellers. That to me is the biggest benefit!