After a 25-year career in retail management and financial services marketing, I was looking for a new challenge. Rather than move on to another job, I consulted with a career counselor and realized that my true desire was to be self-employed. I spent almost a year investigating different opportunities but couldn’t find the right fit – something that gave me the ability to work from home, with flexible hours, yet would be financially rewarding.

I had purchased items on eBay and recognized its potential if the right niche product could be found. My experience in traditional retail management gave me an understanding of the retail business but I had never sold on-line. I set out to study the strategies and tactics of a successful eBay business and once I was comfortable with the marketplace I began to search for the right product. Over the course of 3-4 months I tested various ideas including Trading Assistant. It wasn’t until I tested selling Indian sari fabrics that I knew I had a business model that could provide the volume and profitability that I was looking for. I was fortunate to have made contact with local fabric importers who agreed to let me purchase wholesale orders even though my initial volume was very small. I bought my first order of saris in August 2002, posted them on eBay under the user id totallytextiles and immediately sold out.

Within a year I was featured on the eBay Canada homepage as a Super PowerSeller of the Month. From my small beginning, I have grown my business each month and have achieved my personal and business goals. In October 2006 I was named the eBay Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year for 2006. My story has been featured in a variety of periodicals including, BC Business magazine, Business in Vancouver, The Vancouver Sun and the Globe and Mail.

I feel fortunate that eBay has helped me achieve success, and that has motivated me to become an Education Specialist. I started offering eBay classes in the fall of 2005 and, in addition to my private students, I am teaching “Basics of Selling on eBay” courses at Langara College and at Small Business BC, in Vancouver. Teaching eBay classes has allowed me to blend my experience as a professional corporate facilitator with my hands-on eBay selling experience. I truly love sharing the fun and satisfaction of eBay selling with others because I know how thrilling your first eBay sale can be.

You can view my directory listing here.
Or, you can email me at marilyn@totallytextiles.com.