Online Business Index Launch

April 1, 2011

In 2010, eBay launched its first Online Business Index (OBI). The OBI looks at the largest businesses operating on eBay in Australia. It explores their growth, attitudes and challenges.

On 21st March 2011, Senator Conroy launched eBay’s second Online Business Index at Parliament House in Canberra.

The outlook for Australia\'s businesses selling on eBay is overwhelmingly positive, in fact the results show that Australian-based eBay businesses grew 10 times faster than retail growth over the same period.

In fact, the largest 2,000 businesses selling on eBay in Australia, with turnovers between $120,000 to more than $12.6 million, grew a phenomenal 38% last year. These results are particularly striking when you compare them to traditional retail growth which was flat over the same period.

eBay invited three top sellers Shaun O’Brien, Selby Acoustics; Andrew Astley, CarsRus; and Jethro Marks, The Nile to the launch.

The sellers together with Melanie Brocklehurst, Head of Government Relations, and Deborah Sharkey, Vice President had private meetings earlier in the day with Senators Stephen Conroy, Nick Sherry, Malcolm Turnbull MP and Bruce Billson MP. At the meetings the sellers had a chance to share their success stories and discuss number of findings from the OBI survey.

Download the eBay Inc. Online Business Index (OBI) or view it above.

From right: Shaun O’Brien, Jethro Marks, Melanie Brocklehurst, Andrew Astley

From right: Shaun O’Brien, Jethro Marks, Melanie Brocklehurst, Andrew Astley

Senator Stephen Conroy

Senator Stephen Conroy

Deborah Sharkey, VP, MD eBy Australia

Deborah Sharkey, VP, MD eBy Australia

Far left: Andrew Astley, Shaun O’Brien, Jethro Marks, First right: Senator Conroy and invited guests

Far left: Andrew Astley, Shaun O’Brien, Jethro Marks, First right: Senator Conroy and invited guests

From left: Nathan Winn, Vincent Sheehy, Bruce Billson MP,  Sussan Ley MP, Steven Ciobo MP

From left: Nathan Winn, Vincent Sheehy, Bruce Billson MP, Sussan Ley MP, Steven Ciobo MP

Guests just could not put the OBI down!

Guests just could not put the OBI down!

From left: Jethro Marks, Deborah Sharkey, Shaun O’Brien

From left: Jethro Marks, Deborah Sharkey, Shaun O’Brien