In September of 2003, Laurie Wong opened a small, non-profit thrift store that served not only as a self-sustaining business, but also as a resource center in the local community, providing free items for those in crisis. Sales were mediocre, so Laurie knew she needed to look elsewhere to bring in more revenue. In 2005, despite knowing absolutely nothing about eBay, her friend helped Laurie join this online platform. Laurie went on a risky adventure with eBay, where her uninformed, skeptical self, quickly became a power seller with an anchor store.