eBay recognized a diverse group of online sellers last week by awarding them SHINE awards at its eBay OPEN event held in Las Vegas. The new program is designed to recognize the contributions of small eBay businesses to the economy and entrepreneurs who have used eBay to help build successful businesses.
The SHINE Awards Grand Prize Winner was Laurie Wong, whose eBay store Reflections of Trinity works to serve the needs of its community through ecommerce and a local marketplace ministry. “Over the past five years, she’s been able to run and grow a healthy business, increasing sales and her ability to give back every year. In 2015 alone, she distributed more than 12,000 boxes of groceries (622,965 lbs. of food!) to those in need in her community. She was awarded a $10,000 cash prize as well as a package of marketing tools and services to help grow her eBay business.”
Other prizes went to the following sellers:
Woman Small Business Owner: Tanya Crew, Motorcycle-Works.
Growing Business: Spencer Apland, 541-Motorsports.
Global Business: Neha Gajwani, Smack-Tom.
Charitable Business: Lauralee Lindholm, Heart for Ethiopia.
Family Business: William Wolstenholme, Rhode Island Internet Consignment and Sales.
Over 1,300 small business owners submitted entries. eBay head of North America Marketplaces Hal Lawton said, “The stories we read exemplified the creativity, entrepreneurial attitude, and good old fashioned hustle that make small businesses on eBay, and across the world, successful. We were overwhelmed at the response when we announced our 15 finalists in June and opened the voting up to our buying and selling community. Nearly 40,000 votes were cast by more than 18,000 unique voters – an impressive turnout, and a wonderful show of support for these 15 incredible businesses.”
You can read more about the SHINE awards and the winners on the eBay corporate blog.
And Canadian sellers can learn more about the 12th annual eBay Canada Entrepreneur of the Year Awards on the eBay Canada announcement board.
