Senior House Staff Delegation Experiences the Future of Commerce

June 9, 2014

Staffers representing House of Representatives leadership, Energy and Commerce Committee and their Members, and eBay Inc. Government Relations.

eBay Inc., in coordination with the Internet Association, had the recent pleasure of hosting a delegation of senior Capitol Hill staff as they learned more about eBay Inc.'s business model and the public policy initiatives important to eBay Inc. and its user community.  Through a tour of eBay Inc.'s Commerce Innovation Showcase, the staffers saw firsthand how the lines between traditional commerce and online commerce have blurred.  Today, approximately two-thirds of consumers in the U.S. use multiple channels to shop.

In addition, the tour provided a look at how the local landscape is undergoing retail innovation as technology continues to drive fundamental changes in behavior.  For example, recent studies show that 78% of consumers are choosing to buy in-store after browsing online (i.e. "webrooming") instead of the other way around (i.e. "showrooming")¹.   With approximately 75% of local spending happening 15 miles from home² and more than half of all mobile searches having local intent³, eBay Inc. is offering technology solutions that help retailers of all sizes compete for customers anywhere, anytime.

¹ Accenture
² Census Bureau
³ BIA/Kelsey