"I've just found the brand new Manchester United's jersey on SMilDS.com !!!" Have you ever wondered how companies like eBay, Amazon, Yahoo, SMilDS, etc. become so big? How do they keep growing and so fast? I consider that thinking simple is the best way to generate great ideas, it's about thinking in people's needs. Look, for instances, what started as an auctions website became as the largest person-to-person online trading community, talking about eBay.
Without knowledge about e-commerce, Pierre Omidyar was following all other computer freaks in trying to find a use for the Internet; he believed that an auction could be an interesting marketing tool. Place an advert giving a minimum price and if multiple people show an interest – why not let them bid? In few months his web (AuctionWeb) had hosted thousands of actions and over ten thousand bids. Then, next step was about charging to sellers some percentage of the final price, taking the risk if it would be accepted or not; however, money came in. Hiring people with economic degrees, place eBay in Stock Exchange were steps that within 3 years are almost unbelievable for small enterprises. Now it has over 1,000 categories and bids are placed at the rate of over 600 per minute. It is said that over 250,000 items are added daily and that it has sold over 45 million items since its conception in 1995. The site has about 50 million registered users and employs a staff of over 2,500.
Similar to eBay, people may find Lelong.com.my, which offers auctions and trading in Malaysia; starting as Customer to Customer transactions is now becoming a channel for Business to Consumer relationships. It distinguished by the way to interact with its users, helping them with any problem or questions and solved almost in the same moment, having nowdays over 10,000 members varied with different interest and preferences. So, it's all about people and how they want to be part of something, even if it's about selling their own goods.
In the other hand, SMilDS.com comes up with a very interesting idea and envisioning being the largest e-commerce platform in Asia; SMilDS systems allow not only the person to person trading community but also the business to business. Imagine yourself shopping your holidays' presents at your home, without crowds, long walks, etc. Just wondering that your favorite shop is on-line and just one-click to have your favorite item purchased; that's how Smilds.com has introduced a virtual mall where you will find any particular item and what's even more interesting: online shops. Smilds.com is also worried about people, giving the opportunity to buy their virtual spaces and of course training them in all e-commerce activities that people may be involved.
In the end, e-commerce has reached unpredictable levels where giving the space to buy and sell your goods is not enough; now it's time to share what all this is about with better offers and continuously improvement. Let's get into the trend, start selling something you do not need, may be interesting for others and tomorrow you will have your own business.
