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Sense Trading
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Jane Williams, the Online Retail Manager at Sense Trading, could see collectables being donated to shops that weren’t getting the money they were worth in shops. So she decided to sell through the eBay for Charity programme. Having engaged the local shops and organised the logistics of the trading Jane has turned Sense_Antiques and dress*sense into thriving online businesses.
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Engaging local shops
- “The challenge was to educate branches to what would sell best in our shops and what would sell best on eBay”.
- Jane has encouraged shops to get involved by organising training days with shop managers and attending local area meetings. Attending these meetings has allowed Jane to highlight the eBay for Charity online shop. All 68 shops are now actively engaging with this new way to fundraising, each one advertising Sense online trading through posters in their shop.
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Organising online trading
- “Our biggest key to success is that individual shops get back the money from the items they send us.”
- All proceeds raised through a successful sale on eBay for Charity goes directly back to the shop that originally received the item, meaning they can ring the amount through their tills like a regular transaction.
- The selling of items is all organised centrally by Jane and a team of four part-time volunteers who help with administration, shipment and the packing of goods. Jane and her team pride themselves on excellent customer service that is reflected in their high positive feedback rating.
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Success
- Registering with MissionFish and selling through eBay for charity has allowed Sense Trading to increase the profits on selected items with minimal expense, “It’s like having extra shops but without the overheads!”
- Sense_Antiques and dress*sense approach to centrally managing their online trading, whilst allowing individual shops to benefit has been the major key to the their success. So far, the highest value sale on eBay was a Vivienne Westwood corset, which was auctioned for £416 through dress*sense!
- Sense online is here to stay and is part of Sense Trading, “the charity ribbon that highlights our listings and the eBay fee donations make trading online invaluable.”
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Tools and tips
- Set up an accounting system that makes it easy to redistribute funds to local shops
- Pride yourself on great customer care, it will increase customer retention and newcomers know they are dealing with a trustworthy charity
- Put eBay for Charity on your own website
- Include your charity newsletter or other information in with the item
- Educate those in your charity about the programme and make it an enjoyable way to fundraise
"Besides the new funds raised through our eBay uction, the profile of the charity has been raised immeasurably through eBay for Charity. We're still riding the wave!" — Claire Newman, Development Office, Books Abroad