Manage Subscriptions · Subscribe Now · F.A.Q.'s
HOME · Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Interviews & Profiles
Bikewagon.com: From Classifieds To eBay To Its Own Website
“Do something you are passionate about . . . ”
Dale Majors is passionate about cycling. So much so that in 1999, at age 16, he decided to take a chance with selling bicycle gear online. His original goal was simple: He was looking to upgrade his own cycling equipment and needed the money to do so. Like other young aspiring entrepreneurs, he headed to eBay. One thing lead to another, and before long Majors was making roughly $1,000 a month selling cycling parts. Five years later, what had started in his parent’s basement turned into a full-time business — Bikewagon, which quickly became one of the largest cycling stores on eBay. In February 2007, Majors launched a website, Bikewagon.com, and the Salt Lake City-based business shows no sign of slowing of down.
Bikewagon.com
Consistent, steady growth pays off for specialty retailer: Scales from classifieds, to eBay to its own site.
Size: $1 million approximate 2007 gross revenue.
Biggest Obstacle: “Establishing systems and processes that are not tied to specific personnel, but can instead apply to any employee or staff.”
- PeC Staff
PeC: How did you get your start in ecommerce?
MAJORS: I started selling on Mountain Bike Product Reviews, which is site for mountain bike enthusiasts. I probably sold 50 things there, via the classified ad section, before I sold on eBay.
PeC: What was the first item you sold on eBay?
MAJORS: I don’t remember. I do, however, remember the first time I looked on eBay. I was amazed that people could start an auction so low and trust that it would go up. I remember seeing expensive items and thinking that they might not sell for much. I was wrong. The early days of eBay were awesome. Everything sold for a lot of money, and it sold most all of the time.
PeC: What did you do before you started Bikewagon?
MAJORS: Typical high school stuff. The only job I ever had before Bikewagon was cleaning an office building three or four hours a week for $15 an hour.
PeC: Is Bikewagon online only?
MAJORS: Yes.
PeC: You didn’t initially have a website. What do you hope to accomplish with the site?
MAJORS: I started the website last year in order to get more sales outside of eBay and build a brand.
PeC: Can individuals still make a full-time living selling on eBay?
MAJORS: Yes. There is still a lot of potential on eBay if you are willing to work for it. Consumers like attention and that is what they get on eBay.
PeC: What do you suggest for those people who are considering selling on eBay as a career?
MAJORS: Watch your costs; your products better be good and make sure to have a lot of margin. Many people tell me what they are going sell and most of the time I know that they will not make enough money to be successful due to slim margins and not accounting for all the costs. Also, become very familiar with the different fee structures on eBay.
PeC: In your opinion, what are some of the keys to success on eBay?
MAJORS: Buy well; think of a good price where you can make some money, and then take off another 10 to 20 percent. Use a research tool like Terapeak or eBay’s research tool. Use a listing automation tool — this is a must for scalability.
PeC: What shopping cart do you use?
MAJORS: I use Infopia’s Marketplace Manager. The shopping cart I use is a small part of that product.
PeC: What advice would you offer other ecommerce merchants as they are getting started?
MAJORS: My advice would to be to think about how you can automate your processes. Set things up so they are not dependent on you; only then can your business work for you. My goal with this business was to set it up in a way that it works without me.
PeC: What are some of the biggest mistakes you’ve made with Bikewagon?
MAJORS: In the past I think we could have made faster decisions about branding and order processing technology, which would have helped us become successful a lot sooner. It also would have helped to look more thoroughly at the important metrics that drive our business, such as cost of sales, conversion rate and overall profit margin.
PeC: Final pointers for other entrepreneurs?
MAJORS: Do something you are passionate about, don’t just chase the money.
Blinklist | Del.icio.us | Furl | Ma.gnolia | Newsvine | Spurl | Reddit | Technorati
Published on Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Comments:
Well done! There are may out there aspiring to be just like that and this story just enhances the fact that it needn't be hard but you got to open your eyes. I do also think luck and timing has a part to play though. Now with eBay changing its fee sturcture and the advent of selling through blogs, I wonder if people will still turn their eBay shops into real businesses successfully. I know there have been many who have, but proportionately there hasnt been many successful shops, like BikeWagon. Or such a stable one, I should add. Also it will be interesting to see if people start leaving eBay how the buying behaviour of eBay regulars change.
I have to say, visiting the website, I like the cleanness and also the logo, but it might need some updating soon. Also, the tire looks more like a car tire than a bike tire.
But overall, a great example of turning a hobby into a business.
http://theworldofm.wordpress.com
Posted by: M
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Great article. Nice to see results when discussing eBay and not just "visit often and bid high"... well noted above it is to watch your margins and take account of all your expenses as to not kid yourself of your profit margins....
Posted by: Ed Palmer
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Good stuff!
Posted by: Bruce
Thursday, February 14, 2008
A good research on eBay and its working process is always required for entering into it and introducing an online business. The articles like these would be of immense help for people like me gaining the auction skills and succeed in their business.
Posted by: auction system
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Ecommerce Articles
- Browse All Articles
- Browse our complete archive of ecommerce articles.
- Accounting, Management & Legal
- Ecommerce articles related to managing a small business including ecommerce accounting, business strategy and legal considerations.
- Conversion & Usability
- Online business articles about converting web site visitors into customers and how to gauge and improve your business website's usability.
- Development & Programming
- Articles to help designers, developers and programmers create successful, search engine friendly ecommerce websites and improve existing ones.
- Hosting, Infrastructure & Software
- Articles for ecommerce businesses about ecommerce web hosting, business infrastructure, business strategy and helpful ecommerce & small business software.
- Interviews & Profiles
- Interviews with prominent ecommerce business personalities and profiles of successful online businesses.
- Inventory & Shipping
- Ecommerce articles about inventory management, ecommerce order fulfillment and product shipping considerations.
- Marketing & Revenue Growth
- Articles relating to online marketing, email marketing and using the Internet to growing your business.
- Search Engine Optimization
- Search engine optimization articles for ecommerce business owners, strategists, marketers and developers.
- Shopping Carts & Online Payments
- Articles covering ecommerce shopping cart platforms and options for choosing an online payment gateway.
- Training & Education
- Tutorials and articles providing training and education for ecommerce business owners and developers of ecommerce websites.
Search Articles
Ecommerce Community
- Ecommerce Blogs
- Read our blogs about ecommerce topics written by industry professionals.
- Community Forum
- Connect with other ecommerce professionals to trade advice and answers in our community forum.
- Podcasts
- Check out our ecommerce podcasts covering topics ranging from interviews to tutorials.
- RSS Content Feeds
- Subscribe to our RSS feeds and have fresh ecommerce content delivered to you.
Ecommerce Resources
- Free Email Newsletter
- Sign up for Ecommerce Notes, our free email newsletter for ecommerce business owners and developers.
- Ecommerce Directory
- Browse our directory of ecommerce products and services, or submit your own listing in our directory.
- Ecommerce Glossary
- Familiarize yourself with terminology or submit terms to help others with our Ecommerce Glossary.
- Events Calendar
- Find out about upcoming ecommerce events or invite other ecommerce professionals by posting your own event.
- Press Releases
- Browse ecommerce related press releases and post your own press release for distribution.
- Ecommerce Store & Back Issues
- Pick up back issues of Practical eCommerce magazine along with other merchandise from Practical Ecommerce
About Practical eCommerce
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Look at frequently asked questions regarded using our website, subscribing to our magazine and more.
- Advertising Information
- Information about advertising in Practical eCommerce magazine, on our website, or in our email newsletters.
- Editorial Sharing
- Learn about options for sharing our content with your visitors, customers or employees.
- About Us
- Learn more about Practical Ecommerce magazine and meet our staff.
- Contact Us
- Contact Practical Ecommerce at any time for more information. We'd love to hear from you.
Copyright 2007 Confluence Distribution, Inc. and Practical eCommerce.
All Rights Reserved.
$1 million for bike parts? ... 50,000 units/sales?
Posted by: joe
Thursday, February 14, 2008