This week, I'm travelling to New Orleans to cover eBay's 3rd annual user conference along with some AuctionBytes freelance writers. As in years past, we'll send back photos and articles throughout the event. In today's first article, David explains our Web-site coverage of the event (along with new features this year) and provides links to take you right to the action.
Our own Julia Wilkinson will be signing autographs at eBay Live at the Wiley booth #632. Julia wrote "eBay Top 100 Simplified Tips & Tricks," and will be contributing to our eBay coverage along with Nancy Hix and Barb and Tom Shaughnessy.
Our thanks go out to them, to the volunteers from the Disabled Online Users Association (DOUA) who will be sending back pictures from eBay Live, and to all of our sponsors. Advertisers make it possible to bring you the latest online-auction industry news and information, at no charge to you.
Readers who are attending eBay Live this week should know there are two non-eBay sponsored events going on. The "eBay Elite," which we wrote about in May http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y04/m05/i03/s01, is hosting a reception Thursday evening. A limited number of tickets are being auctioned off on eBay, do a seller search for nestegg2001. They are holding a live auction for the DOUA. Thanks to Mulates Restaurant near the convention center and other restaurants for donating meals to the charity event. You can read about the auction at http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y04/m06/i14/s04.
Also, eBay ShootingStar Powerseller Bill Bogardus (biggbill) is hosting a reception for the AuctionEthics and OTWA communities and has extended an invitation to AuctionBytes readers. The reception is from 8 - 10 pm at the Holiday Inn Select. Lou DiDona, who has contributed articles to AuctionBytes, is the DJ for the event! Learn more here http://www.auctionethics.com/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=009636, and we'll keep you up to date on our AuctionBytes "eBay Live" coverage pages.
In April, Leigh Bader, President 3Balls.com, invited me to take a tour of their operations. It was a fantastic opportunity to get an inside peek at an online retailer and eBay Powerseller. Behind the office is the warehouse, where they receive merchandise (golf clubs!). The physical handling and storage of items is extremely well organized, and the company uses software to speed data-entry, shipping and administration. I turned the visit into an article that you can read in today's newsletter.
Marie Senese, one half of the famous couple Jay and Marie, graciously agreed to be interviewed for our ongoing Industry Profile feature. Marie and Jay are the highest-rated sellers on eBay (jayandmarie). Marie shared with me some of the challenges of operating an eBay business.
Also in today's issue, Andy Geldman contributes an article about market research tools for analyzing eBay; Nancy Hix looks at e-loyalty marketing programs for online users; and Mark O'Neill writes about a seller who put his knowledge to use in his community by teaching a class on eBay selling. And as usual, readers write in with some interesting thoughts in the "AuctionBytes Soundoff: Letters from Readers" column.
Thanks for reading.
About the author:
Ina Steiner is Editor of AuctionBytes.com and author of "Turn eBay Data Into Dollars" (McGraw-Hill 2006). She has a background in marketing and research in the high-tech and publishing fields. If you have story ideas, comments or questions, send them to ina@auctionbytes.com.
You may quote up to 200 words of any article on the condition that you attribute the article to AuctionBytes.com and either link to the original article or to www.AuctionBytes.com. All other use is prohibited.
