eBay launches virtual outlet mall

By: Adam Burlison

&

David Meigs

History

• Created in 1995 by Pierre Omidyar• Began as an experiment attempting to resell

broken laser pointer• Transformation in commerce: personal global

market place• First example of online social networking

Fashion Outlet .

• Virtual Outlet Mall– Connection of eBay customers directly to designer

brands • Economy:– Brands and retailers overstocked with inventory– Need to move liquidation products– eBay offers greater speed & a higher margin

turning this inventory

• Fashion Outlet• 200+ brands• 20 to 65% off

retail price

Market

• 39 global markets• 90 million eBay customers• $1,900 traded each second

Online Retail Boom . . .

• Last year US online retail sales grew 12%– $176 Billion

– 2 probable causes:• Age of Smartphones • Customers getting used to online shopping and using

websites for their retail purchases

Questions

• How many have an eBay account?• Would you use eBay’s fashion outlet?• Could this change the way we shop online?• Would you rather shop in a real mall, or a

virtual mall?

Word Cited

• http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-20108579-93/ebay-launches-virtual-outlet-mall-for-u.s/

• http://www.ebay.com/fashion/outlet• http://www.ebayinc.com/