This collection options profitable eBay sellers who’re former Up & Operating grantees. Apply by June 7 to change into one in all this 12 months’s 50 grantees and obtain $10,000 to develop what you are promoting.
Andrew Havens has cherished know-how since he was a toddler, disassembling and reassembling issues only for the enjoyable of it. He started promoting all types of tech on eBay in 2019, however thought of shutting down his enterprise in 2020 through the pandemic when gross sales had been gradual.
eBay launched a program in 2020 referred to as the Up & Running Grants, which has awarded 50 sellers with $10,000 yearly for the final 5 years. Andrew determined to use in that first 12 months of this system, and was chosen as one of many 50 grantees.
Receiving the grant allowed him to pivot into promoting scientific know-how and develop his gross sales virtually tenfold over the following three years. We sat down with Andrew to listen to how he scaled his international enterprise and to get his recommendation for sellers.
From baby techie to eBay vendor
After I was a child, I used to be very occupied with know-how and wished to grasp how issues work. I might take issues aside and put them again collectively, like handheld video video games and distant management automobiles. I actually loved fixing issues.
As I acquired older, I developed a ardour for the enterprise facet of know-how. Now that I’ve created a distinct segment for myself by promoting scientific gear, I’ve realized an excellent deal, not solely in regards to the devices and the science itself, however about enterprise methods for sourcing and promoting. About 90% of the tech we promote is refurb, so my focus is on rising our buyer community and serving to scientists discover the components they’re on the lookout for. I don’t really feel like I’ve a job as a result of I’m having enjoyable.
It’s superior that the gear I promote could also be utilized by scientists to assist create life-saving medication, cut back local weather change, and create a extra sustainable meals system. I promote worldwide to many high universities, in addition to well-known corporations and smaller startups, sending them know-how to assist their analysis.
Andrew (pictured proper) in his warehouse simply exterior of Portland, Oregon.
How he grew his enterprise virtually 10X in 3 years
There are some things I did within the early days of the enterprise which have actually paid off over time.
The primary is deciding to promote in just one class so I might change into extra educated a few particular business. For me, that was scientific know-how. When COVID hit in 2020, I acquired very near shutting the enterprise down, however fortuitously I acquired the eBay Up & Operating Grant. I made a decision to deal with a distinct segment that I had probably the most curiosity in and the least quantity of inside resistance to the precise each day work circulation. Understanding that I’m serving to scientists and engineers make a greater world with their discoveries retains promoting sustainable for me and drives me to continuously enhance.
The second factor I did was to get snug with delivery wherever on the planet. We ship to only about in every single place and to very shocking locations, like presidential palaces. Simply in the present day we shipped to India and Colombia.
Lastly, I automated our inbound advertising and marketing and developed a deep degree of proficiency with working adverts. I experimented to see which adverts acquired us probably the most inquiries, after which I took our greatest outcomes and ran a brand new experiment. I’ve executed that on repeat for years. Enhancing what we do by 1% per week has compounded and made an enormous distinction. We don’t must make gross sales calls; individuals attain out to us.
3 ways he scaled after receiving the eBay Up & Operating Grant
It’s arduous to explain how shocked I used to be after I acquired the telephone name that I’d acquired the Up & Operating Grant. I’m not likely a “fortunate” individual, so I didn’t count on that decision. I used to be speechless. I don’t suppose I mentioned something for about thirty seconds.
The very first thing I did as soon as I acquired the grant was to accumulate further stock, permitting me to totally leap into promoting scientific know-how.
Subsequent, I discovered somebody to accomplice up with who I nonetheless work with in the present day over three years later. Not solely has lightened my workload, nevertheless it permits me to deal with the areas that develop the corporate similar to strategic sourcing and advertising and marketing. Hiring him has had a profound affect on my enterprise, and we work within the warehouse collectively day-after-day.
Lastly, I rented an even bigger storage unit and put in some pallet shelving, which allowed us to get organized and ship issues extra shortly and effectively. We additionally acquired a fork carry which has helped with the heavy lifting.
His recommendation for sellers
All the time do what’s pure and genuine to your self, and run experiments to see what you do finest with. When you discover a course of that works, repeat it and frequently discover methods to enhance it. The distinction is in the way you do one thing, not what you do.
Truthfully, one in all my greatest items of recommendation for sellers is to use for the Up & Operating Grant. I’ve a lot much less grey hair on my head than I might if I hadn’t acquired the grant. I’ve labored actually arduous to get to the place I’m in the present day, however due to the grant, I’ve been in a position to spend extra time with my household.
I positively suggest being as real as attainable in your software. Don’t be afraid to be your self. I attempted to be precisely who I used to be in my solutions. And far to my shock, I used to be chosen. I’m nonetheless grateful and benefitting from that in the present day.
