eBay Impact

Retailers in Ohio, Michigan and North Carolina, Nova Scotia, Canada, and Wolverhampton, U.K., are learning from eBay how to reach entirely new markets and attract customers from virtually anywhere in the world, 24/7. The program aims to strengthen local economies, create jobs and contribute to the vibrancy of these communities.

Retail Revival, launched in the U.S. in March 2018, builds on similar—and highly successful—local development programs we’ve executed in in Mönchengladbach and Diepholz, Germany, and L’Aquila, Italy.

Marcel’s twin daughters were very young when his father was diagnosed with lung cancer. “I kept looking at my kids and thinking their life was just beginning, and looking at my father knowing his life was coming to an end. I couldn’t get away from thinking I have to help the children who are suffering from this disease.”

Marcel combined his determination to help with his passion for collecting sports memorabilia and opened a charity store on eBay.

In support of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September 2018, eBay donated $1 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for every like, share and comment of Marcel’s video on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and $1 for every purchase of Gifts that Give Back supporting St. Jude. eBay also featured inventory from Marcel and other charity sellers throughout the month. In total the September campaign raised more than $40K for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Seattle Goodwill is a nonprofit organization maybe best recognized for its 24 retail stores in northwest Washington and its popular eBay for Charity store where bargains are found daily. But the organization’s true mission is to provide job training and basic education to people facing barriers to employment, “Because Jobs Change Lives.”

Lazon heard about the organization’s job training program over the loudspeaker during his many visits to the Seattle Goodwill store. One day he decided to learn more.

Seattle Goodwill not only provided Lazon with the training to build the job skills he needed, it opened the door to new economic opportunities when it hired him to provide customer service at their retail store.

Today, Lazon helps shoppers navigate the store, assists with questions and returns, and perhaps most importantly, Lazon is the voice on the loudspeaker telling Goodwill shoppers about the organization’s job training program.

With his new life taking shape, Lazon has some advice he plans to share with his now one-year-old daughter, Faith, as she grows.

“You can’t just wait for an opportunity to come into your lap. There’s an opportunity coming; you just got to look for it, and be prepared for it.”