May we introduce? Dr. Saskia Meier-Andrae – Managing Director eBay Germany
The management of eBay Germany is in new hands: Since March 2024, Dr. Saskia Meier-Andrae has been leading the marketplace business. Time for her first visit to the podcast studio to talk with our hosts Isabell and Lisa about her first impressions and experiences at eBay.
But that’s not all: eBay is celebrating its 25th anniversary in Germany. We learn how eBay has shaped e-commerce in Germany over this time and what awaits us on the platform in the future.
Together, we dive into the special features of the eBay marketplace and discuss why a partnership with sellers is essential. Saskia Meier-Andrae also explains which technologies are intended to make the platform and our sellers’ businesses even more successful in the future.
Enjoy listening!
**Important links**
- eBay Durchstarter
- eBay Community
- eBay for Business on Facebook
- More info about the eBay podcast “All top. Again anytime!” and our podcast hosts
** Chapter markers **
- [00:01:58] to [00:03:35] Career before eBay
- [00:03:32] to [00:06:11] How were the first weeks at eBay?
- [00:06:11] to [00:11:43] How does eBay support in economically challenging times?
- [00:11:43] to [00:14:00] 25 years of eBay in Germany
- [00:14:00] to [00:17:06] Recommerce: What makes eBay special?
- [00:17:06] to [00:17:45] What does the future of e-commerce look like?
- [00:17:45] to [00:19:02] This or That - Summer edition
Isabell: You’ve probably already heard: Since March this year, eBay Germany has had a new managing director. Dr. Saskia Meier-Andrae. Saskia is taking over the leadership of our marketplace business and brings an impressive résumé. She studied mathematics at Oxford and earned her doctorate in bioinformatics. At Boston Consulting Group, she helped companies become more successful, and she discovered her passion for e-commerce at Wayfair. What plans eBay Germany has for Saskia and what that means for you, dear listeners, you’ll find out now.
Saskia: In my now seven years of e-commerce experience, I’ve learned above all that the success of a platform is intrinsically linked to the success of the sellers on the platform, and that’s why investments in programs like “Durchstarter” or “eBay Lokal” are absolutely the right approach. We’re only successful together with our sellers, and I believe the effect of these investments we make is noticeable too — the sellers I’ve met so far, even though it’s only been 100 days, are passionate about eBay.
Isabell: Welcome to “All top. Again anytime!” the eBay podcast about commerce and e-commerce. I’m Isabell Butterwegge and I’m sitting together with Lisa Haak in our studio in Dreilinden. As you already heard in the intro, we’re not alone here today. Our new managing director Saskia is making her very first podcast appearance with us today.
Lisa: And there are two reasons for that. For one, she’s now been at eBay for just under three months, so it’s the perfect time to find out what her first impression is and what her plans are. And as if that weren’t reason enough to celebrate, eBay Germany is also turning 25. Many of you have experienced what happened over the last 25 years and how eBay has developed. That’s why today we’d rather look at the here and now and what lies ahead in the future. So, welcome, Saskia!
Saskia: Hi, I’m really happy to be here.
Isabell: Yes, we’re also happy you’re here. Saskia, you have such an impressive résumé, and I’d like to start right there. What did you take from your studies in Oxford into your jobs? Bioinformatics isn’t exactly the classic foundation for e-commerce.
Saskia: Exactly, I studied mathematics and then did my doctorate in bioinformatics. In that combination, I learned two things that I can use very well in my career and especially at eBay. First, to analyze and interpret data, which in e-commerce and tech is naturally our daily business, and then, during my doctorate, I learned to dive deeply into completely unfamiliar subject areas, ask the right questions, and drive innovation. That naturally serves me well professionally too.
Isabell: Yes, before you came to eBay, you held various management roles at Wayfair, and for anyone who doesn’t know Wayfair, it’s one of the world’s largest companies in home and furnishings, and before that you were a consultant at Boston Consulting Group. What led you back then to switch from consulting to the company side?
Saskia: I really loved my time in consulting and learned an incredible amount there, but after ten years there came a point where I thought, no, now I want to switch sides. I don’t just want to write smart advice on slides, I want to make decisions myself and roll up my sleeves myself to really push topics forward. End to end, sustainably over years and not just in a six-week project until the next board meeting.
Lisa: That sounds totally understandable, and then, very bluntly asked, how did the step to eBay come about?
Saskia: Through Oliver. No, seriously, the timing just worked incredibly well. Oliver was looking for someone to succeed him, and after almost seven years at Wayfair, my former company, I was also looking for a new challenge, and that’s where we met. What excites me so much about eBay is that it’s simply a company everyone knows, everyone has a personal story about it, my generation grew up with it, and it’s more relevant today than ever. We’re not a startup, we’re the strong number two in e-commerce in Germany and therefore an integral part of the German economy, and being able to be part of that, especially in such a leadership role, is of course a huge opportunity, but also a challenge.
Lisa: And I think that’s how many people here on campus feel. You’ve been with us for around three months now, have gotten to know many of us, and gained many impressions. What’s your impression of eBay and the eBay campus?
Saskia: First of all, I think eBay has a really great corporate culture, smart, energetic, and collaborative colleagues who really want to get things done. And that’s something where I immediately felt at home and welcome, and beyond that: I’m impressed by how eBay, as a company with 25 years in the market and a truly established business model, remains so hungry for innovation and so agile, like how we use AI in such versatile and proactive ways to improve our customers’ buying and selling experience every day. Or what our internal investments in innovations around safety and trust are concerned. I already found both of those to be very impressive aspects.
Lisa: Understandable, and you just said you felt at home right away. So what is it that makes eBay so unique for you?
Saskia: Well, I think I felt welcome and at home mainly because of the culture and the sustainability of the business model. It’s simply something you can personally really stand behind. And, I mean, I already mentioned it. But I don’t want to go through our German business figures in detail now. But this position of being the strong number two in the market is really quite unique in the e-commerce space, and that’s an incredibly exciting foundation to build on. And in turn, it allows us to invest so deeply in strengthening our offering and in new innovations, and that’s simply a basis that’s just fun.
Isabell: Yes, then let’s talk about the topics currently affecting us in e-commerce in general. In general, German retail is under quite a bit of pressure, with factors such as the generally declining consumer mood and, at the same time, increasing demand for throwaway and low-cost products playing a role. Where does eBay come in here?
Saskia: So, we clearly see ourselves as a partner to retail. In my now seven years of e-commerce experience, I’ve learned above all that the success of a platform is intrinsically linked to the success of the sellers on the platform, and that’s why investments in programs like “Durchstarter” or “eBay Lokal” are absolutely the right approach. We’re only successful together with our sellers, and I believe the effect of these investments we make is noticeable too, so the sellers I’ve met so far, even though it’s only been 100 days, are passionate about eBay. And that symbiosis, this partnership, this understanding of shared economic success, that is eBay to me.
Isabell: You just mentioned eBay Durchstarter in passing. I’d say we can add the info about the program to the show notes, and you also mentioned eBay Lokal. How exactly does eBay support brick-and-mortar retail in this context?
Saskia: I think one thing that’s really important is that many eBay sellers use online sales as a second pillar. Yesterday I heard about a model shop owner who has been selling with us for a long time, who has a really lovely little store that doesn’t get much foot traffic and who has been able to maintain success for years through eBay. That’s just a great story, and beyond that we also do a lot of local support in response to your question about brick-and-mortar retail on site, for example with projects like “eBay deine Stadt”, “eBay Lokal”. The brick-and-mortar sector is simply very close to our hearts.
Isabell: We’ve just talked about low-cost and throwaway products, and many marketplaces are currently being flooded with them. Why is it especially important in these times to create a lasting and positive customer relationship?
Saskia: The pressure to consume is already enormous for buyers right now and is being further intensified by questionable incentives — I assume that’s what you’re referring to — from providers like Temu and Shein. And in contrast stands eBay with reliability, trust, and legal certainty. I think, I think the point is also really, really important in this context, and eBay truly stands for these values. I personally am also convinced that people in Germany, and especially the younger generation, will continue to stand for these values, and thus eBay’s approach is, in my view, by far the more sustainable one.
Lisa: Saskia, you just spoke about our sellers who are passionate about eBay, and you’ve already gotten to know some of our sellers through roadshows or meetings you’ve had, and noticed that our seller landscape is super diverse. That’s also reflected in our eBay Community, and there we received a question: how does eBay want to position itself for the future and ensure that both large and small, medium-sized businesses can be part of eBay’s success?
Saskia: Absolutely! I think that’s one of our core strengths and, as I said, something very close to our hearts. eBay supports sellers of all sizes with a wide range of programs, and I believe our infrastructure is also optimally and future-oriented designed, especially to give the somewhat smaller sellers the scalability they need to be successful. A few examples are that with us you can market your inventory very quickly and easily. Yes, that through smart and especially AI-supported technologies along the sales chain we also enable scalability for exactly these smaller sellers. And then, as a very specific example, in our Seller Cockpit Pro you have super meaningful data at your fingertips to continuously improve your business. I think that’s already very unique. Smaller businesses in particular usually don’t have access to such transparency, and that ranges from inventory management to sales recommendations to current trends in our product search, which you can then use to adapt your assortment.
Lisa: That is definitely also eBay as a technology company, as support for our sellers, and I think we’ll no longer get to the point where we record a podcast and don’t talk about AI, because it plays such a big role for us at eBay. Is AI a topic you particularly keep an eye on?
Saskia: Well, as a mathematician, the topic is naturally very close to my heart. My perspective is: eBay is a company that has tech deeply in its DNA, and AI is basically an organic extension and can act as a catalyst here. With AI we can find pragmatic and scalable solutions to difficult questions and thus make life easier for our sellers, especially for small and medium-sized businesses in Germany. The point is that in economically strained times, more can be achieved with fewer resources, and that is also, in another sense, a formula for sustainable success.
Isabell: Before we turn to the congratulations for a very special anniversary, a quick note to our listeners. We always greatly appreciate your feedback on our podcast in the eBay Community or on our Facebook page “eBay for Business Deutschland”. There you can always send us your topic suggestions for future episodes.
Lisa: And if you’re listening to us in the Spotify app right now, we definitely want to know from you: How long have you been with eBay? You can answer directly via the “Questions and Answers” feature in the app. Just pull the slider up from the bottom edge in the app, and let’s go. And feel free to leave a like or subscribe where you’re listening right now. Then you won’t miss any future episodes.
Isabell: Let’s get to the anniversary now. This year we’re celebrating 25 years in Germany. Saskia, what does this anniversary mean for eBay as a company?
Saskia: For me, eBay is simply an icon of digital culture, and this icon is turning 25. 25 years may still be young for a person. I’d love to be 25 again, but for an e-commerce company it’s truly an incredible age. I mean, founded in Germany in 1999, what I find especially exciting: eBay has never been more relevant than it is now. After all this time, we’re still the strong number two in Germany with over 18 million customers, and as pioneers of the digital circular economy we stand at the center of a megatrend around recommerce, with the largest offering of refurbished and B-stock items in Germany. And — and then I’ll stop raving: above all, for 25 years we’ve been a partner to retail and, as a pure marketplace, do not compete with retail. Overall, I just think that’s an incredible achievement, and I say: Happy Birthday!
Lisa: Thanks on eBay’s behalf! That fits eBay. And for you as the new managing director, do you have a different opinion on that?
Saskia: It’s of course an incredibly unique and exciting moment to become part of eBay and take over such a significant business, and yes, honestly, also a task I approach with both great respect and an incredible amount of personal energy. I’m looking forward to accompanying eBay on its journey into the next 25 years.
Lisa: Hmm, very nice, you just said it. We at eBay have seen ourselves as pioneers of the digital circular economy since our founding. As enthusiastically as you spoke about it, is that also a promise for the future?
Saskia: Pre-loved items are a central component of eBay’s strategy and goals, and what started with the auctioning of used items from private hands 25 years ago is today a highly professional segment with its very own ecosystem of refurbishment specialists, private and commercial sellers, and service providers, and this professionalized ecosystem, all the B-stock, refurbished goods, and used goods that are now being bought and sold: what would the alternative be? Well, these items would end up in some landfill, and that is an incredible economic and, above all, ecological value that we create there. And one more number, also on your point about the future: last year, 55 percent of Germans bought a used item. That’s great and proves how big this market is. But I would wish that searching for these products becomes part of the shopping habits of many more people in the future, and I believe that will happen too. That’s why I also think it’s so exciting and smart to invest heavily in this area.
Isabell: Yes, absolutely! eBay has been around in Germany since 1999, and there aren’t many digital companies from back then that are still in the market today and, as you just said, continuing to grow. What’s eBay’s secret?
Saskia: I would say eBay follows a consistent and successful strategy of sustainable growth. To do that, we invest in a unique, diverse offering that brings people together worldwide on a safe marketplace, and the uniqueness of the offering lies on the one hand in diversity across categories, but also across product conditions: from new goods to B-stock and refurbished and restored items to pre-loved fashion and that garage sale find. And this variety of offerings across these different dimensions, combined with the security, protection, and trust that we offer both buyers and sellers, makes us truly quite unique.
Isabell: Speaking of B-stock and refurbished items: a little bird told us that you yourself also like to look for second-hand offers. Especially in the areas of fashion and furnishing. Is that true?
Saskia: Absolutely! I’m a huge eBay fan, since day one, both as a buyer and as a seller. Some of my recent purchases were a refurbished MacBook, where I saved several hundred euros, which was great; six Chinese vases from England — antique — that now decorate our winter garden, and of course pre-loved fashion too: just yesterday I bought a designer blazer that I think I got in top condition for 10 percent of the retail price, and I think it arrives tomorrow, which I’m really looking forward to. My husband is more into car parts and tires, classically speaking.
Lisa: Wow, maybe I need you as a personal shopping consultant then, the way that sounds. But Saskia, let’s look into the future together. How do you think e-commerce will develop over the next few years?
Saskia: I’m convinced that topics like safety, partnership with sellers, and of course recommerce as three central building blocks of our strategy will become even more central, and I think technology and especially AI will open new doors of scalability for us, and for all these topics I see eBay very well positioned for the future. So I’m looking forward to setting off into the next 25 years.
Lisa: We’re looking forward to it too, and we’ve already learned a lot about you, about you at eBay, and would like to do a little more of that through a small game. We played it with Oliver, so now you have to do it too. The game is called “this or that?” and because we’re heading into summer now or already in summer, we’re playing the summer edition. So we name two terms, and you always decide for one or the other, ready?
Saskia: Absolutely!
Lisa: Beach vacation or city trip?
Saskia: Beach vacation, although my husband and I always argue about whether it’ll be the North Sea or Italy.
Lisa: Very good! Lake or outdoor pool?
Saskia: Lake.
Lisa: Spot in the shade or in the sun?
Saskia: Spot in the shade.
Lisa: Ice cream or iced coffee?
Saskia: Iced coffee — you think it’s more figure-friendly.
Lisa: Bike tour or hiking?
Saskia: Hiking.
Isabell: Barbecue in the garden or picnic in the park?
Saskia: Barbecue in the garden.
Isabell: Sunrise or sunset?
Saskia: Hard to say, it depends on whether it’s the weekend or not. Then probably sunset. During the week I like getting up early, so in that case, sunrise.
Isabell: Pool party or beach volleyball?
Saskia: Pool party.
Isabell: Carrying books around or packing an e-reader?
Saskia: Very traditionally: books!
Isabell: Sandals or sneakers?
Saskia: Sandals in summer, sneakers in winter.
Lisa: And for hiking, hopefully the sneakers too and not the sandals!
Saskia: Absolutely!
Lisa: Thank you, Saskia, for taking the time and for letting us learn more about you and your work at eBay today, and for telling us so much about yourself. I have to say, that was a top-notch first podcast appearance. What do you think, Isabell?
Isabell: Yes, definitely. We hope you’ll come back soon, and it was also super exciting to hear how you’ve experienced eBay so far yourself and how we’re positioning ourselves together for the future at eBay. We’re very curious to see what the next 25 years will look like.
Saskia: I’m really looking forward to it too. Thank you very much for having me as a guest, and I’m looking forward to hopefully many more episodes.
Isabell: Bye, see you next time!
Lisa: See you very soon! Bye!
Saskia: In my now seven years of e-commerce experience, I’ve learned above all that the success of a platform is intrinsically linked to the success of the sellers on the platform, and that’s why investments in programs like “Durchstarter” or “eBay Lokal” are absolutely the right approach. We’re only successful together with our sellers, and I believe the effect of these investments we make is noticeable too — the sellers I’ve met so far, even though it’s only been 100 days, are passionate about eBay.
Isabell: Welcome to “All top. Again anytime!” the eBay podcast about commerce and e-commerce. I’m Isabell Butterwegge and I’m sitting together with Lisa Haak in our studio in Dreilinden. As you already heard in the intro, we’re not alone here today. Our new managing director Saskia is making her very first podcast appearance with us today.
Lisa: And there are two reasons for that. For one, she’s now been at eBay for just under three months, so it’s the perfect time to find out what her first impression is and what her plans are. And as if that weren’t reason enough to celebrate, eBay Germany is also turning 25. Many of you have experienced what happened over the last 25 years and how eBay has developed. That’s why today we’d rather look at the here and now and what lies ahead in the future. So, welcome, Saskia!
Saskia: Hi, I’m really happy to be here.
Isabell: Yes, we’re also happy you’re here. Saskia, you have such an impressive résumé, and I’d like to start right there. What did you take from your studies in Oxford into your jobs? Bioinformatics isn’t exactly the classic foundation for e-commerce.
Saskia: Exactly, I studied mathematics and then did my doctorate in bioinformatics. In that combination, I learned two things that I can use very well in my career and especially at eBay. First, to analyze and interpret data, which in e-commerce and tech is naturally our daily business, and then, during my doctorate, I learned to dive deeply into completely unfamiliar subject areas, ask the right questions, and drive innovation. That naturally serves me well professionally too.
Isabell: Yes, before you came to eBay, you held various management roles at Wayfair, and for anyone who doesn’t know Wayfair, it’s one of the world’s largest companies in home and furnishings, and before that you were a consultant at Boston Consulting Group. What led you back then to switch from consulting to the company side?
Saskia: I really loved my time in consulting and learned an incredible amount there, but after ten years there came a point where I thought, no, now I want to switch sides. I don’t just want to write smart advice on slides, I want to make decisions myself and roll up my sleeves myself to really push topics forward. End to end, sustainably over years and not just in a six-week project until the next board meeting.
Lisa: That sounds totally understandable, and then, very bluntly asked, how did the step to eBay come about?
Saskia: Through Oliver. No, seriously, the timing just worked incredibly well. Oliver was looking for someone to succeed him, and after almost seven years at Wayfair, my former company, I was also looking for a new challenge, and that’s where we met. What excites me so much about eBay is that it’s simply a company everyone knows, everyone has a personal story about it, my generation grew up with it, and it’s more relevant today than ever. We’re not a startup, we’re the strong number two in e-commerce in Germany and therefore an integral part of the German economy, and being able to be part of that, especially in such a leadership role, is of course a huge opportunity, but also a challenge.
Lisa: And I think that’s how many people here on campus feel. You’ve been with us for around three months now, have gotten to know many of us, and gained many impressions. What’s your impression of eBay and the eBay campus?
Saskia: First of all, I think eBay has a really great corporate culture, smart, energetic, and collaborative colleagues who really want to get things done. And that’s something where I immediately felt at home and welcome, and beyond that: I’m impressed by how eBay, as a company with 25 years in the market and a truly established business model, remains so hungry for innovation and so agile, like how we use AI in such versatile and proactive ways to improve our customers’ buying and selling experience every day. Or what our internal investments in innovations around safety and trust are concerned. I already found both of those to be very impressive aspects.
Lisa: Understandable, and you just said you felt at home right away. So what is it that makes eBay so unique for you?
Saskia: Well, I think I felt welcome and at home mainly because of the culture and the sustainability of the business model. It’s simply something you can personally really stand behind. And, I mean, I already mentioned it. But I don’t want to go through our German business figures in detail now. But this position of being the strong number two in the market is really quite unique in the e-commerce space, and that’s an incredibly exciting foundation to build on. And in turn, it allows us to invest so deeply in strengthening our offering and in new innovations, and that’s simply a basis that’s just fun.
Isabell: Yes, then let’s talk about the topics currently affecting us in e-commerce in general. In general, German retail is under quite a bit of pressure, with factors such as the generally declining consumer mood and, at the same time, increasing demand for throwaway and low-cost products playing a role. Where does eBay come in here?
Saskia: So, we clearly see ourselves as a partner to retail. In my now seven years of e-commerce experience, I’ve learned above all that the success of a platform is intrinsically linked to the success of the sellers on the platform, and that’s why investments in programs like “Durchstarter” or “eBay Lokal” are absolutely the right approach. We’re only successful together with our sellers, and I believe the effect of these investments we make is noticeable too, so the sellers I’ve met so far, even though it’s only been 100 days, are passionate about eBay. And that symbiosis, this partnership, this understanding of shared economic success, that is eBay to me.
Isabell: You just mentioned eBay Durchstarter in passing. I’d say we can add the info about the program to the show notes, and you also mentioned eBay Lokal. How exactly does eBay support brick-and-mortar retail in this context?
Saskia: I think one thing that’s really important is that many eBay sellers use online sales as a second pillar. Yesterday I heard about a model shop owner who has been selling with us for a long time, who has a really lovely little store that doesn’t get much foot traffic and who has been able to maintain success for years through eBay. That’s just a great story, and beyond that we also do a lot of local support in response to your question about brick-and-mortar retail on site, for example with projects like “eBay deine Stadt”, “eBay Lokal”. The brick-and-mortar sector is simply very close to our hearts.
Isabell: We’ve just talked about low-cost and throwaway products, and many marketplaces are currently being flooded with them. Why is it especially important in these times to create a lasting and positive customer relationship?
Saskia: The pressure to consume is already enormous for buyers right now and is being further intensified by questionable incentives — I assume that’s what you’re referring to — from providers like Temu and Shein. And in contrast stands eBay with reliability, trust, and legal certainty. I think, I think the point is also really, really important in this context, and eBay truly stands for these values. I personally am also convinced that people in Germany, and especially the younger generation, will continue to stand for these values, and thus eBay’s approach is, in my view, by far the more sustainable one.
Lisa: Saskia, you just spoke about our sellers who are passionate about eBay, and you’ve already gotten to know some of our sellers through roadshows or meetings you’ve had, and noticed that our seller landscape is super diverse. That’s also reflected in our eBay Community, and there we received a question: how does eBay want to position itself for the future and ensure that both large and small, medium-sized businesses can be part of eBay’s success?
Saskia: Absolutely! I think that’s one of our core strengths and, as I said, something very close to our hearts. eBay supports sellers of all sizes with a wide range of programs, and I believe our infrastructure is also optimally and future-oriented designed, especially to give the somewhat smaller sellers the scalability they need to be successful. A few examples are that with us you can market your inventory very quickly and easily. Yes, that through smart and especially AI-supported technologies along the sales chain we also enable scalability for exactly these smaller sellers. And then, as a very specific example, in our Seller Cockpit Pro you have super meaningful data at your fingertips to continuously improve your business. I think that’s already very unique. Smaller businesses in particular usually don’t have access to such transparency, and that ranges from inventory management to sales recommendations to current trends in our product search, which you can then use to adapt your assortment.
Lisa: That is definitely also eBay as a technology company, as support for our sellers, and I think we’ll no longer get to the point where we record a podcast and don’t talk about AI, because it plays such a big role for us at eBay. Is AI a topic you particularly keep an eye on?
Saskia: Well, as a mathematician, the topic is naturally very close to my heart. My perspective is: eBay is a company that has tech deeply in its DNA, and AI is basically an organic extension and can act as a catalyst here. With AI we can find pragmatic and scalable solutions to difficult questions and thus make life easier for our sellers, especially for small and medium-sized businesses in Germany. The point is that in economically strained times, more can be achieved with fewer resources, and that is also, in another sense, a formula for sustainable success.
Isabell: Before we turn to the congratulations for a very special anniversary, a quick note to our listeners. We always greatly appreciate your feedback on our podcast in the eBay Community or on our Facebook page “eBay for Business Deutschland”. There you can always send us your topic suggestions for future episodes.
Lisa: And if you’re listening to us in the Spotify app right now, we definitely want to know from you: How long have you been with eBay? You can answer directly via the “Questions and Answers” feature in the app. Just pull the slider up from the bottom edge in the app, and let’s go. And feel free to leave a like or subscribe where you’re listening right now. Then you won’t miss any future episodes.
Isabell: Let’s get to the anniversary now. This year we’re celebrating 25 years in Germany. Saskia, what does this anniversary mean for eBay as a company?
Saskia: For me, eBay is simply an icon of digital culture, and this icon is turning 25. 25 years may still be young for a person. I’d love to be 25 again, but for an e-commerce company it’s truly an incredible age. I mean, founded in Germany in 1999, what I find especially exciting: eBay has never been more relevant than it is now. After all this time, we’re still the strong number two in Germany with over 18 million customers, and as pioneers of the digital circular economy we stand at the center of a megatrend around recommerce, with the largest offering of refurbished and B-stock items in Germany. And — and then I’ll stop raving: above all, for 25 years we’ve been a partner to retail and, as a pure marketplace, do not compete with retail. Overall, I just think that’s an incredible achievement, and I say: Happy Birthday!
Lisa: Thanks on eBay’s behalf! That fits eBay. And for you as the new managing director, do you have a different opinion on that?
Saskia: It’s of course an incredibly unique and exciting moment to become part of eBay and take over such a significant business, and yes, honestly, also a task I approach with both great respect and an incredible amount of personal energy. I’m looking forward to accompanying eBay on its journey into the next 25 years.
Lisa: Hmm, very nice, you just said it. We at eBay have seen ourselves as pioneers of the digital circular economy since our founding. As enthusiastically as you spoke about it, is that also a promise for the future?
Saskia: Pre-loved items are a central component of eBay’s strategy and goals, and what started with the auctioning of used items from private hands 25 years ago is today a highly professional segment with its very own ecosystem of refurbishment specialists, private and commercial sellers, and service providers, and this professionalized ecosystem, all the B-stock, refurbished goods, and used goods that are now being bought and sold: what would the alternative be? Well, these items would end up in some landfill, and that is an incredible economic and, above all, ecological value that we create there. And one more number, also on your point about the future: last year, 55 percent of Germans bought a used item. That’s great and proves how big this market is. But I would wish that searching for these products becomes part of the shopping habits of many more people in the future, and I believe that will happen too. That’s why I also think it’s so exciting and smart to invest heavily in this area.
Isabell: Yes, absolutely! eBay has been around in Germany since 1999, and there aren’t many digital companies from back then that are still in the market today and, as you just said, continuing to grow. What’s eBay’s secret?
Saskia: I would say eBay follows a consistent and successful strategy of sustainable growth. To do that, we invest in a unique, diverse offering that brings people together worldwide on a safe marketplace, and the uniqueness of the offering lies on the one hand in diversity across categories, but also across product conditions: from new goods to B-stock and refurbished and restored items to pre-loved fashion and that garage sale find. And this variety of offerings across these different dimensions, combined with the security, protection, and trust that we offer both buyers and sellers, makes us truly quite unique.
Isabell: Speaking of B-stock and refurbished items: a little bird told us that you yourself also like to look for second-hand offers. Especially in the areas of fashion and furnishing. Is that true?
Saskia: Absolutely! I’m a huge eBay fan, since day one, both as a buyer and as a seller. Some of my recent purchases were a refurbished MacBook, where I saved several hundred euros, which was great; six Chinese vases from England — antique — that now decorate our winter garden, and of course pre-loved fashion too: just yesterday I bought a designer blazer that I think I got in top condition for 10 percent of the retail price, and I think it arrives tomorrow, which I’m really looking forward to. My husband is more into car parts and tires, classically speaking.
Lisa: Wow, maybe I need you as a personal shopping consultant then, the way that sounds. But Saskia, let’s look into the future together. How do you think e-commerce will develop over the next few years?
Saskia: I’m convinced that topics like safety, partnership with sellers, and of course recommerce as three central building blocks of our strategy will become even more central, and I think technology and especially AI will open new doors of scalability for us, and for all these topics I see eBay very well positioned for the future. So I’m looking forward to setting off into the next 25 years.
Lisa: We’re looking forward to it too, and we’ve already learned a lot about you, about you at eBay, and would like to do a little more of that through a small game. We played it with Oliver, so now you have to do it too. The game is called “this or that?” and because we’re heading into summer now or already in summer, we’re playing the summer edition. So we name two terms, and you always decide for one or the other, ready?
Saskia: Absolutely!
Lisa: Beach vacation or city trip?
Saskia: Beach vacation, although my husband and I always argue about whether it’ll be the North Sea or Italy.
Lisa: Very good! Lake or outdoor pool?
Saskia: Lake.
Lisa: Spot in the shade or in the sun?
Saskia: Spot in the shade.
Lisa: Ice cream or iced coffee?
Saskia: Iced coffee — you think it’s more figure-friendly.
Lisa: Bike tour or hiking?
Saskia: Hiking.
Isabell: Barbecue in the garden or picnic in the park?
Saskia: Barbecue in the garden.
Isabell: Sunrise or sunset?
Saskia: Hard to say, it depends on whether it’s the weekend or not. Then probably sunset. During the week I like getting up early, so in that case, sunrise.
Isabell: Pool party or beach volleyball?
Saskia: Pool party.
Isabell: Carrying books around or packing an e-reader?
Saskia: Very traditionally: books!
Isabell: Sandals or sneakers?
Saskia: Sandals in summer, sneakers in winter.
Lisa: And for hiking, hopefully the sneakers too and not the sandals!
Saskia: Absolutely!
Lisa: Thank you, Saskia, for taking the time and for letting us learn more about you and your work at eBay today, and for telling us so much about yourself. I have to say, that was a top-notch first podcast appearance. What do you think, Isabell?
Isabell: Yes, definitely. We hope you’ll come back soon, and it was also super exciting to hear how you’ve experienced eBay so far yourself and how we’re positioning ourselves together for the future at eBay. We’re very curious to see what the next 25 years will look like.
Saskia: I’m really looking forward to it too. Thank you very much for having me as a guest, and I’m looking forward to hopefully many more episodes.
Isabell: Bye, see you next time!
Lisa: See you very soon! Bye!
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