On July 16, eBay returned to Capitol Hill for its second annual reception, “Innovating for American Small Businesses”, bringing together lawmakers, eBay executives and entrepreneurs from across the country to highlight the power of technology and policy in supporting America’s small business economy.
The event showcased our ongoing commitment to creating economic opportunity through innovation, trust and community building. The event’s attendees, including members of Congress and their staff, were able to experience eBay’s latest technologies first-hand — including interactive sneaker and luxury handbag authentication, information on eBay’s PROACT program to combat organized retail crime, and even demonstrations of eBay’s proprietary trading card sorting machine.
At the reception, many eBay sellers displayed their items and shared how the platform has helped them build thriving businesses. From scaling a family-run operation to balancing entrepreneurship with a full-time career, each story underscored the important role eBay plays in empowering American entrepreneurs.
“Advocating on behalf of small businesses is such a privilege, and we're pleased to see and showcase the impact of the great investments that we are making in trust and safety on the platform,” Samantha Weelington, chief legal officer at eBay, said. “When we partner with lawmakers on policies that support small businesses and entrepreneurs, we're working to create opportunities for sellers and their families, and we're going to keep doing exactly that."
With more than 43% of eBay sellers living in rural communities or small towns, the platform continues to break down barriers to entrepreneurship and expand access to global commerce. In fact, sellers reach customers in over 190 countries through eBay’s AI-powered listing tools and buyer and seller protections.
Through the event, eBay also reinforced its leadership in recommerce. By advocating for policies that help support small businesses, we hope to continue making it easier for anyone to sell pre-loved goods. For longtime seller Linda Lightman, founder of “Linda’s Stuff,” eBay has been transformative.
“What started as a one-woman show in 2000 has become a family-run business with over 50 employees,” Lightman said. “eBay and I have grown up together, scaling our business to meet customer needs from fast, free shipping to the confidence that comes with programs like Authenticity Guarantee. But more than anything, we’ve built a true sense of community, and that’s what eBay is all about.”
That sense of community and empowerment resonated with other entrepreneurs at the reception, too, such as Yinka Ogunsunlade, owner of “Fashionably Legal.”
“I can balance my full-time job as an attorney with my business, Fashionably Legal, because selling on eBay doesn’t feel like work – it’s a passion,” Ogunsunlade said. “Whether I’m sourcing items, taking photos, or packing up orders, it’s the thrill of the hunt that keeps me going. Tools like the Seller Hub and seller metrics have been instrumental in helping me grow, plus, features like Authenticity Guarantee give both me and my buyers confidence – it’s been a real game-changer.”
As eBay continues to invest in technology, trust and seller success, events like these emphasize the importance of strong partnerships between the recommerce industry and policymakers. Together, eBay and its community of sellers are building a more inclusive, accessible and innovative economy no matter where you’re from and or what your background is.
“eBay is the vessel that helped me fulfill my American Dream,” said Ken Gaitano, a Filipino-born entrepreneur and owner of “The Hustle Bee.” “What started with selling a few pairs of shoes to pay the bills has grown into a global business that I now run full-time with my wife, reaching over 30 million impressions a month.”