Connecting sellers with policymakers

Before founding Global Watch Straps, Albertine worked as a nurse while building a side business sourcing and reselling vintage watches and watch straps. What began as a hobby in 1999 became an official business in 2003 following the purchase of an estate collection. Initially run from a small room at home, the business steadily expanded and moved into a dedicated business unit in 2014.

Today, Global Watch Straps is known among collectors and watchmakers from Australia to Canada and Switzerland for its collection of vintage watches, movements, spare parts and straps. Through the acquisition of multiple estates, Albertine has built an extensive inventory of hard-to-find components that help preserve, restore and keep historic timepieces in use.

“Our goal is to recycle and resell, to make the use of watches circular and give generations to come the chance to repair their beloved vintage watches.”

Prior to starting his own business, Frank worked for Harley Davidson University, where he trained technicians from all over Europe. In 2007, Frank used his extensive experience to open his own retail store, California Motorcycles, where he repairs and sells motorcycle and automotive parts & accessories. The following year, Frank noticed he had expensive inventory that didn’t work for local customers and was not selling well in his shop. Initially, eBay was simply a channel to get rid of extra inventory, but in less than a year, Frank realized eBay’s potential as a way to expand his physical business. Today, California Motorcycles sells about 25% internationally to countries all over Europe and the world including the US, Saudi Arabia and Mexico.

"Selling on eBay has helped expand our physical business. It’s like having a virtual shop in every county around the world."

Jakub has had a lifelong passion for racecar driving and competed in the Polish racing championship and international events. When his driving career came to an end, he opened a store selling motorsport accessories.

Jakub joined eBay in 2010 and within a few months, he was selling to customers worldwide. Today, he owns one of the biggest and most modern racing showrooms in the world and employs nearly 20 people. Although he doesn’t plan on racing again, Jakub enjoys helping to make his customers’ dreams come true.

"There is no greater feeling in the world, than to wake up doing what you love every single day. eBay allows me to share my passion with customers around the world and is a great partner in the success of my small business."

Kristian founded Buy2Sell with a clear vision from the beginning: ‘One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.’ Buying equipment of any electronic kind and reselling it to another is the core of Buy2Sell. The eBay storefront buys and sells new and used electronic goods and also devices that are marked as broken. The company is built on knowledge about industry electronics: there is no machine, no item, and no technical equipment Buy2Sell has not seen, worked with or even had in store. With the philosophy of reselling everything even if broken Buy2Sell customers have quickly found out that they can use Buy2Sell to find spare parts for their machines instead of just throwing the whole machine out.

"Buying and reselling electronic goods is my big passion. I believe in a world where we can recycle, upcycle and reuse all technical products. Old does not mean bad; every item can find new valuable life somewhere in the world."

Lindsay began her career as a mechanical design engineer, passionate about sustainability and second-hand treasures. She turned to eBay as a way to generate additional income, initially selling household items before discovering jewellery bundles that sparked a new business opportunity. What started as a small resale venture gradually evolved  into a successful online business built around creativity, reuse and craftsmanship.

Today, Lindsay is the founder of Ojewellery, a British jewellery brand creating sustainable pieces from recycled precious metals and genuine gemstones. More than two decades after starting her eBay journey, she remains deeply involved in the seller community, co-hosting the Manchester eBay Meetup, mentoring other entrepreneurs and helping new sellers grow their businesses through shared experience and support.

"eBay taught me what customers value and gave me the opportunity to turn a passion for sustainability into a business. What started with reselling jewellery bundles grew into Ojewellery, a brand creating new pieces from recycled metals."

In 2011, Maria Gabriella and her husband Vincenzo started their business in Naples. After the birth of her first child, Maria Gabriella decided it was the right time to leave her traditional job and start a business that would allow her to have more time at home with her family. In 2012, the couple opened a store on eBay and have never looked back. They now export their Italian gourmet products from Campania to the rest of Europe and the United States. The couple started their business with only a small warehouse in the basement, a desk and a printer. Today, what was once just a dream has grown into a thriving business. The eBay store has given them access to customers from all over the world who are looking for authentic Italian products.

"eBay has allowed me to start a business and still have time at home with my growing family. It started as a small warehouse in the basement, but now I have a thriving online store and ship Italian products all over the world."

Michelina Romano is the owner of Rubik Elettronica, an eBay store specializing in the sale of both used and new electronics. Michela’s business began as a personal passion, reselling used electronics in Rimini. Her passion became a thriving business when a friend who was already active in e-commerce introduced her to the world of eBay and taught her how to turn it into a business - thus Rubik Elettronica was born. Since she first joined eBay in 2005, her business has expanded to cover not only used products but also new, well-known products, reaching new markets and customers internationally.

"eBay has allowed me to transform what was a passion into a real thriving business, reaching new customers and markets throughout Italy and the world."

In 2015, the two primary school friends Jonas and Paul were given two old sofas and had an idea—to give used things a new life. Without training, without studying and without a specific idea of designer furniture, they soon developed a professional approach and a high level of specialist knowledge. This is how the foundation of a truly sustainable furniture trade was created in a rented garage in Cologne, where furniture was stacked up to the ceiling. The used and revived products are now available in a Revive Store and at 4 sales partners in Germany, which are shipped all over the world. Over 700 different designer pieces are waiting for a new owner in the Revive online shop.

"Our dream is to generate a rethink in humanity and eBay is a great partner in this."

Since 2012, EQT-Solutions has been an international supplier of pre-owned industrial equipment, providing pre-loved testing and measurement equipment to companies and individual buyers alike. Based in Finland, the company has one of Europe’s largest stock of tested preowned T&M equipment. It exports both to other countries within the EU and beyond. The company has been selling on eBay since 2015.

Sustainability is a key part of EQT-Solutions’ mission—if a piece of equipment cannot be resold in its current condition, EQT Solutions will often work to refurbish individual parts before reselling. EQT- Solutions makes T&M equipment trading simple, smooth and sustainable.

"eBay reaches potential customers globally like no other platform. eBay also lowers the threshold for potential new buyers to purchase pre-owned equipment with all its buyer protections, such as money back guarantee."