SAN JOSE, CA, January 2004 – eBay, The World's Online Marketplace, today unveiled its ‘Exclusives Program,’ designed to help expand businesses and grow the collectibles market. During the pilot phase of the program, leading manufacturers such as Goebel, Enesco and Disney offered exclusive products, available only on eBay. Fenton Art Glass will launch its eBay Exclusive on January 15, 2004.
As part of the pilot program, manufacturers created a limited edition item available exclusively on eBay. Some manufacturers offered a small number of artist signed items using eBay’s traditional auction format, while most of the pieces were offered at a fixed price.* Goebel and Enesco products also came with a coupon that could be redeemed at participating retailers. So far, the three initial program participants have sold over $2.6 million in eBay Exclusive collectibles.
The program was created to provide manufacturers with a means to grow their business and drive sales both online and off. The ‘Exclusives Program’ offers numerous benefits:
- Extends and promotes uniqueness of the brands
- Exposes product line to over 86 million registered users
- Offers access to a highly liquid distribution channel
- Provides a diversified source of revenue and customer acquisition
- Provides for cross-channel promotions (e.g.: coupon redeemable at retailers)
“The promotion helped Enesco reach a broader audience of Precious Moments collectors and gift buyers,” says Dan Dallemolle, president and CEO, Enesco Group Inc. “And the certificate drove traffic to our traditional retail stores, making this a positive promotion for everyone. We see eBay as an ally to the world of collecting and to collectibles companies. As shown by this type of promotion, collectibles companies can use eBay’s audience to generate the thrill of the hunt, which is so tremendously vital to the success of this industry.”
“eBay works to develop innovative programs that help contribute to the growth of the Collectibles industry, said Dan Neary, director of eBay Collectibles. “The ‘Exclusives Program’ gives manufacturers exposure to the world’s largest community of collectors, while rewarding those collectors with the opportunity to purchase an exclusive limited edition from their favorite manufacturer.”
About eBayeBay is The World's Online Marketplace®. Founded in 1995, eBay created a powerful platform for the sale of goods and services by a passionate community of individuals and businesses. On any given day, there are millions of items across thousands of categories for sale on eBay. eBay enables trade on a local, national and international basis with customized sites in markets around the world. Through an array of services, such as its payment solution provider PayPal, eBay is enabling global e-commerce for an ever-growing online community.
