Female entrepreneurs in the U.S. are using online marketplaces like eBay to build their business and reach international customers, according to a new eBay report.
Released in honor of National Women’s Small Business Month, the 2022 U.S. Women-Owned Small Online Business Export Report shows how eBay is helping even the smallest women-owned businesses and microentrepreneurs access global markets.
The report found that 97% of U.S. small businesses owned by women on eBay are exporters, compared to less than 1% of traditional businesses. In addition, U.S. women-owned eBay small businesses reach an average of 15 international markets — nearly four times that of traditional businesses. eBay-enabled small businesses owned by women even outperform eBay small businesses overall in reaching international buyers.
“When I began selling 16 years ago, the process to sell internationally was rather complicated,” said Andrea Harrison of In a Clutch, a successful online accessory and consignment store on eBay with buyers from around the world. “But now, eBay has helped simplify the process and has made selling internationally so much more fluid. I really enjoy selling on a platform that has everything already built in, like eBay.”
“I can really leverage eBay’s global reach to access a worldwide audience,” added Karen Lesak, whose eBay store Finds For You sells designer clothing and accessories to consumers around the globe. “eBay helps alleviate the stress of an international sale and helps increase my reach to foreign countries. As a small business, I am only able to ship globally thanks to my partnership with eBay.”
eBay continues to disrupt the traditional ways of doing business, dedicated to connecting people and building communities to create economic opportunity for all — and the results are clear. The export success of small businesses owned by women on eBay points to the inclusive nature of our marketplace and how we level the playing field by opening access to global markets regardless of size.
Read more in our report at eBay Main Street.