With the current condition of the eBay drop store franchise industry, it has become apparent that not everyone who bought into the “owning a business without investing in inventory” sales pitch has actually succeeded as a business.
The question then becomes…Is it possible to operate a profitable business as a full time trading assistant?
The answer is complicated, and on the surface the quick answer would be NO - not without modification of the business plan suggested/promoted by most eBay drop store franchises and used by most Trading Assistants.
I can share this opinion from experience because at one time, I was a master franchise representative for one of the largest eBay drop store chains in America (and 5 other countries). The experience as a franchise rep taught me that the franchisees needed more support to become successful.
The franchisees in our chain were hungry for information about how to improve, how to market and how to make the whole operation profitable. The franchisees and I eventually became disillusioned with the franchise and its marketing/business plan (which will stay nameless) because the franchise was not willing to invest in the continued marketing support of the franchisees. I felt it was in the best interest of the franchise to make an effort to help the existing franchisees with marketing sales and business planning. In my opinion, if the existing franchisees were having trouble being successful, eventually the market would dry up and new franchisees would become difficult to find.
The franchise must be a healthy successful enterprise and all of the people who invested in that franchise must also be... Or the franchise will not survive. This prediction seems to be fulfilling itself and instead of saying I told you so, I decided it would be better to break free and help anyone who is in business as a Trading Assistant or Drop Store operator no matter their prior affiliation.
An eBay trading assistant business or drop store operation is not something which can be canned into a package and set up in a way which will guarantee success. An eBay drop store is not like a McDonald’s or Radio Shack. You can not simply put up a franchise sign and expect people to walk into your store and be comfortable with your brand. eBay is the brand, not XYZ franchise trying to look like eBay.
The American public has turned the corner, they now trust the name eBay. When a third party brand in the form of a franchise is interjected into mix is when the public looses confidence. If you were sold a franchise store and were advised that people would stream in bringing their Rolex watches and Tiffany lamps just because you put up a sign from XYZ franchise… I can imagine that you, like many of the franchisees from my former company, have noticed it just did not happen as you may have been led to believe.
So… What is the Answer? Can a Trading Assistant make a profit? – Yes or No?
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