eBay Awards 2022

eBay Awards - Outstanding sellers wanted!

The eBay Awards, the annual highlight for eBay Germany, will be presented this year as the grand finale of the 5th eBay Open on September 7 and 8. With this, we once again want to honor outstanding sellers for their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit on our online marketplace. Before the application deadline ends on June 30, 2022, we talk together with last year’s winners, Melanie Halfmann from MH Farben Manufaktur GmbH and Paul Jonas from Revive GmbH, about the significance of the eBay Awards for sellers. In addition, Linde Scheers, Chief Marketing and Growth Officer at eBay Germany, introduces this year’s eBay Awards jury, explains the different award categories, and talks about why the Awards are so important for eBay.

**Important links**

More information about the eBay Awards

Apply for the eBay Awards

Farbenmanufaktur | eBay Shops

Revive | eBay Shops

Isabell: Hello dear listeners, and welcome to our new podcast episode for our sellers and of course for everyone who wants to become one. I’m delighted that you’re joining us again today, and I’m just as pleased that my podcast colleague David is back as well. Hi David!

David: Hi Isabell and hello dear listeners! I’m glad you’re joining us again this time too. In today’s episode, we want to give you lots of information about our eBay Awards. For the fifth time already, we’re honoring outstanding sellers in various categories, and there’s still time to apply until June 30. So, best to apply right after the podcast episode. Today we want to take a deep dive into the topic and have invited three guests for you who can tell us everything about the eBay Awards firsthand.

Isabell: Yes, I’m also really looking forward to today’s round. We’ve invited some great guests, and first I’d like to give a warm welcome to Melanie Halfmann from Farben Manufaktur. Hello Melanie!

Melanie: Hello everyone and hello dear listeners. I’m very happy to be here today and would also like to thank you for the invitation.

David: Very nice. Hello Melanie! I’m also glad that we have another seller with us today, namely Paul Jonas from Revive. Hello Paul!

Paul: Hi, David. Thanks for the invitation, and I’m looking forward to the roundtable.

Isabell: Yes, and last but not least I’d like to give a very warm welcome to our Chief Marketing and Growth Officer and eBay Awards jury member: Linde Scheers, who is with us again on the podcast today. Hello Linde!

Linde: Hello everyone! I’m very happy to be back again today.

David: Very nice. Melanie, let’s come to you. In 2021, so last year, you were able to take home an eBay Award. Would you like to tell us a bit about yourself and your company so people can get to know you a little better?

Melanie: Yes, gladly! We founded Farben Manufaktur in July 2020 and launched our company. Our original idea was to develop new formulas and color shades as a service provider for the paint and coatings industry. Basically for other paint manufacturers. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, none of that was really possible, and as paint developers we then decided to produce our own paints and coatings. And since there are already enough sellers on the market, we had to look for a niche that was still more or less open for us specifically, and with the Farbenmanufaktur brand we initially developed paints primarily for women. That was our main target group that we wanted to address. Then we expanded our product range in that direction and said we make completely custom colors. That means customers can buy paints and coatings from us and have us produce more or less exactly what they need. So we don’t just sell off-the-shelf shades and paints; through the eBay marketplace, customers also have the option of sending us samples in the form of fabrics or paper. We then match those and make them available to the customer. And that works wonderfully through eBay. That’s our main area of work at the moment.

Isabell: Super exciting! I also think paints for women is a beautiful vision. Paul, you also won the eBay Awards last year. What exactly do you do at Revive and what did the prize mean to you when you received it?

Paul: Yes, gladly. I founded the company Revive together with my school friend Jonas at the end of 2014. Or rather, that’s when the idea came about. We’ve known each other since fourth grade, for quite a long time now, and after graduating we simply teamed up, rented an office without having the idea fully formed, and just said: Come on, let’s start something. That’s how the idea for Revive came about, and our task or self-set goal is simply to extend the product life of used products. And that started back then with us buying used designer furniture, refurbishing it, and selling it. By now we also do this with bikes, meaning e-bikes, mountain bikes, racing bikes, and so on. And yes, in the long term, the vision is to do this with all kinds of products that nobody else has done yet. Everyone already does books and CDs and the like. But the bulky items, the ones that are less fun to handle, not that many people have dared to tackle those yet. That’s exactly what we do. And back then it all started on eBay for us. That was the first sales channel. That’s how we grew. So without eBay, all of this definitely wouldn’t have worked so easily the way it ultimately did. We became the market leader in the designer furniture segment relatively quickly, and yes, it’s quite a cool story by now. And the Award was accordingly just a very, very cool recognition for us because it’s completely tied to eBay. So Revive and eBay are linked together, in a positive way, and the Award put a seal on that marriage. I’ve now put that beautifully, a real love story.

David: I also think it should definitely be a love story from both sides. And that’s why I’m very happy that you won the Award accordingly. Linde, this year you’re once again a jury member for the Awards, but of course you also have your regular job as Chief Marketing and Growth Officer. Besides this role as jury member, what is currently your most important to-do in eBay’s marketing department?

Linde: It is actually a very long to-do list, but I can try to summarize it briefly. A major focus is rebuilding our brand, and we’re doing that through the brand platform “eBay. That’s you.” What we want to achieve is that everyone understands what eBay stands for and why people should go to eBay to buy and sell. Another focus is also improving onboarding for new customers, because we sometimes make things very complicated for our customers, and then of course there is still the focus on acquiring new customers and on customer retention.

Isabell: Yes Linde, David already mentioned that this year we’re presenting the eBay Awards for the fifth time. What significance do the Awards have for us as a marketplace?

Linde: The Awards are an absolute highlight for us because they allow us to learn more about the stories and business ideas of our many great sellers and also receive honest feedback. At the same time, it’s also an opportunity to give something back and to thank the people who make our diverse marketplace what it is.

Isabell: Yes, diversity is also reflected in the composition of the jury, and we’ve brought together quite a few experts from e-commerce, who naturally evaluate the sellers in the end. Would you like to tell us more about your fellow jury members?

Linde: Of course! As every year, we staff our jury with many bright minds from e-commerce. Oliver Klink, our Managing Director for Germany, and I are strongly supported in the decision by editor and platform specialist Ingrid Lommer, who has been writing for Internet World Business since 2008. We were also able to bring Dr. Kai Hudetz, Managing Director of IFH Cologne, onto our jury again. With his many years of expertise, he is one of the most sought-after e-commerce experts in Germany. And Professor Dr. Gerrit Heinemann, Head of the eWeb Research Center at Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences and expert in digitalization, e-commerce, and online and multi-channel retail, is also back. And our last jury member is of course also in this round today: Paul Jonas. Paul already told us that, like Melanie, he was among the winners of the 2021 eBay Awards. After that, Paul stayed in contact with us, often gave us honest feedback, and also supported us with some measures. And through this now very close contact, it was the logical step for us to invite him onto our jury this year as well. We are very happy about that!

Isabell: Yes, as you just said, that really is a fantastic lineup. Many bright minds from e-commerce really fits very well. Paul, you already described the relationship earlier as a “love story with eBay.” As a former Award winner, you’re now part of the jury. What do you want to pay attention to when evaluating this year’s sellers?

Paul: Yes, first of all it’s very, very cool to be on the jury. I was really happy when I got the invitation to take a look behind the scenes. Yes, I think there are two areas I’ll be looking at when we choose and vote on the winners. First, the sustainability aspect, which is a very important part of what we do at Revive, and these days I think you also can’t avoid doing something that serves no real purpose. So I’ll be looking to see that it’s something sensible, or a sensible winner, someone who does good things. But I’ll also look at the participants and the submissions with a founder mindset, because I can pretty well assess the effort and the commitment it takes to implement certain models. And I think I have a pretty good feel for that.

David: Very nice. I definitely think that’s an exciting addition to our jury. Melanie, in 2021 you were among the winners of the Award. How did it come about that you applied in the first place, and what was the reason for it? And how did the process continue after that?

Melanie: In our case, our original business idea had nothing at all to do with e-commerce. That means we as a small startup had more or less already used up our entire budget and had to start completely from scratch again because we were no longer providing a service but were now entering e-commerce due to the coronavirus pandemic. And we decided to go with eBay first and foremost because I already knew it from the past, and then in January ’21 we basically launched our first products on eBay, and accordingly I was of course also spending a lot of time on the eBay platform and saw the notice that you could apply there. We didn’t really expect to win later on. Especially since we were such a young company that had been selling on eBay for only a few months, and so we then quite spontaneously submitted an application to eBay anyway and were accordingly surprised that we won.

David: Very nice! So even shortly before the application deadline ends, you can still apply. You definitely have a chance of winning. Melanie, what did the win mean for you and for Farben Manufaktur? Did it perhaps also have positive effects for your company?

Melanie: Yes, definitely. We were in a phase where we often said we honestly didn’t know where our path was really going, because everything had turned out differently than we had imagined. The eBay Award really reassured us that we were on the right path and that our paints and coatings, which we sell on eBay, are also resonating with people. And of course the Award also had the positive effect that we were able to learn a lot more about e-commerce afterward. And that was the main thing for us.

Isabell: And how was it for you, Paul?

Paul: Back then, in 2020, I was a guest at eBay Open, in an interview format, and I think someone from eBay asked me whether we had actually applied, whether we were in the Award. And I was like: Huh? eBay Award? Tell me more, I don’t know anything about it. And that was the first time I heard about it, but by then it was unfortunately already too late to apply, so I said: Okay, 2021 is our chance. Then we applied, filled out everything that was in there, and as is usually the case, you don’t expect anything to come back, but it was all the cooler when the call came from eBay with the message: “Hey, you won!” I was actually very happy about it because, on the one hand, I’ve never really had a trophy, or yes, I’ve won some prize before, but never an actual trophy. And from eBay it’s somehow even cooler because, I don’t know, since I was 10, 11, 12, 13, I’ve been on eBay, selling things, always doing a lot of buying and selling and so on, and I feel a strong connection because of that. That made it feel very cool, and the Award itself is just awesome. It’s this plexiglass thing and for some reason I just think these things are fancy. It’s kind of like at “The Dome” or something like that, you know it. Yes, with an engraved, well, the name and the company name on it. For some reason, that gives you something.

Isabell: And besides the fancy trophy, did any other positive effects come out of it for your company?

Paul: Yes, we definitely used the Award win itself in the media. We had a videographer with us when we won the Award. Then we made a small YouTube episode out of it, kind of a vlog. Then we used the newsletter, posted on Instagram, and so on. It definitely creates a pretty good public image when you’re recognized for your performance. The collaboration with eBay has also been strengthened even more. Linde already mentioned earlier that we work quite closely together and have touchpoints here and there. Some are things related to our account and our business model. But similarly, there are improvements that arise which affect all sellers. Plus, of course, the prizes you get with it, the cash prize, sales commissions, and so on. All nice things that you’re happy to take along.

Isabell: So there are still positive effects a year later?

Paul: Yes, definitely. And I’m happy every day to see this Award displayed proudly on our counter.

David: Very nice. Linde, this year we have six great categories in which our sellers can apply. Would you like to tell us more about the categories and maybe reveal which one is your favorite?

Linde: Yes, and they really are all very great categories, and we put a lot of thought into which categories best reflect eBay as a marketplace, and of course also looked at which topics are currently on our minds and those of our customers. Paul already mentioned the topic of sustainability earlier, doing something good for the world, and that is definitely important to us too. So making our everyday life more sustainable, more diverse, and more inclusive. We as a company are also increasingly focusing on that, which is why my favorite categories are “Sustainable Business” and “Social Business.” And in addition, in the “Rising Star” category we are also looking for our new shooting stars in online retail. But sellers can also apply in the categories “Local Hero,” “Young Entrepreneur,” or as an “Online Seller from the Very Beginning.” We explain exactly what lies behind the categories in detail on the application page, and the page is also linked in the show notes.

David: Yes, definitely. We also link directly to the application form. But Linde, let’s come back to it. Our sellers can still apply until June 30. So they still have a few days, and we heard from Melanie earlier that you can even apply one day before the deadline ends and still win. But can you explain exactly what you have to do in order to be able to take part?

Linde: Yes, the application is actually very simple. On the eBay Awards landing page in the seller portal, you’ll find all the important information about the awards ceremony, the prizes, the jury, and even about last year’s winners. And from there, you can also go directly to the application page. And there all six categories are presented in detail, and you can decide which award you want to apply for. After that, you need to provide some information about your eBay shop. You tell us in a short paragraph why you should win the award in the respective category, and then you’re in the draw for the eBay Awards 2022.

Isabell: That definitely sounds manageable. Melanie, looking back, how would you rate your participation in the eBay Awards?

Melanie: For us, it was one of the best things that could have happened to us as a startup because we not only received enormous attention from eBay, but also more or less locally in our region, which definitely took us a whole step further. Honestly, the best thing for us as absolute newcomers in the e-commerce space was the support we received from eBay, because we more or less jumped into the deep end with our e-commerce business and were really able to learn through eBay how to write listings properly. And that was one of the best things we did in the last half year. And like I said, I can only recommend applying there.

Isabell: And Paul, how was it for you? What does the prize mean to you today, and how do you think other eBay sellers could benefit from the Award?

Paul: Yes, first of all, having the prize and winning it, as I already said, is just cool. That alone makes it worth it. No, but you can really take away some cool things for yourself with very, very little effort. The effort is low, but above all, eBay supported us really well on the marketing side afterward and brought us into conversations here and there, so that a few media pieces were created. Whether it’s press articles, magazine articles, and so on. And one thing is currently in the works, I can’t say exactly what it is, but right now we’re preparing a shoot for a TV segment about us. That was initiated by eBay, on a major channel in prime time. On top of that, cool things emerge that, as a startup, you either couldn’t afford or wouldn’t want to, or wouldn’t easily get into at all. So it’s more than just the Award that comes out of it.

David: Very nice, great to hear! Linde, we’re also very happy that this year we’ll once again be able to present the prize live on site at eBay Open on September 7 and 8 in Berlin. But now it’s already been mentioned, there’s the trophy itself but something was said about coaching. What exactly? What prizes are actually waiting for the winners of the eBay Awards?

Linde: Yes, Melanie and Paul already teased it, and it really is more than just a good-looking Award. Yes, this year the winners will each receive prize money of 5,000 euros and a credit on their sales commission worth 1,000 euros. And they will also receive three months of intensive consulting from eBay experts to help expand their eBay business. And of course they will also be invited to eBay Open on September 7 and 8, 2022, which, as we already announced, will finally take place in person again this year. So we’re really looking forward to that. And of course this includes overnight accommodation in Berlin and a visit to the eBay Germany headquarters in Dreilinden near Berlin. So there are plenty of reasons to apply.

David: Very nice! Definitely, as I said, the link to the application form is directly in the description. There are still a few days left. We heard that whether you wait almost a year to be able to apply, or maybe just apply on the last day or the day before, you definitely have a chance to win. It’s not hard to take part, and you definitely get something out of it if you do win. Many thanks again to all three of you for these exciting insights into the heart of the Awards. Now we come to our final question, which probably all regular listeners have been waiting for. And I’ll start with you, Paul: what was the last thing you bought and maybe also sold on eBay?

Paul: Last thing I bought? That’s a pretty funny story. A little sad for me, though. I had just bought a brand-new Insta360 camera. It’s a 360-degree camera that takes really awesome pictures, and I take it with me when skydiving, or rather I had it with me there for the first time. And after the jump, when I landed, I reach for my helmet to turn it off. And it’s no longer there because the mount it was attached to flew off. And yes, before I then fell into a hole full of frustration and sadness, I went straight to eBay and bought a new one, or rather a used one, for a better price, and I was happy again. So that was very good. And I don’t really sell anything privately on eBay, but through the business I do. So we sell furniture and bikes all day long on eBay.

Isabell: Very nice, Paul. Now I don’t even know what’s cooler, the hobby or buying the camera. Melanie, what was the last thing you bought and maybe also sold on eBay?

Melanie: Yes, mine wasn’t quite as exciting as Paul’s. Mine was just a jacket in our company color. And we sold one of our, actually one of our best products, our glitter paint.

David: Okay, now I’m naturally curious whether the jacket also has glitter paint, but all right.

Melanie: No, not quite.

David: Linde, how about you? What was the last thing you bought and sold?

Linde: Yes, I bought a phone from our Re-Store. So refurbished, and I actually sold sneakers.

Isabell: That’s also a very nice reference to our Re-Store, about which we already spoke with Simone in a podcast episode. Thank you three. I always find it very inspiring what you can find on eBay after all, how broad the range is. Yes, and at this point I’d also like to say a heartfelt thank-you to you all for taking the time for us today.

David: Yes, and with that it’s already time for my closing words, as always at the end of the episode. We’re very happy about your feedback on our podcast. Feel free to write to us in the eBay Community about your experiences, especially if you’ve participated in the program or have already applied for the eBay Award. Just leave us a comment and we’ll always be happy to pass your questions on. Of course, we’d also be very happy if you leave us a subscription or a like, if possible, like you’re doing right now listening to us. And once again, many thanks to all three of you for being here today, taking the time, and giving us this behind-the-scenes look at the Award. Thank you, and goodbye until next time.

Linde: Bye.

Melanie: Ciao.

Paul: Ciao, ciao.

Isabell: Bye.