Canadian innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship to be recognized in eBay
Canada's 2010 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards

Sixth annual program includes new Innovator of the Year and Family Business of the Year awards

TORONTO, July 22 /CNW/ - eBay Canada will once again recognize and reward Canada's most successful and entrepreneurial eBay sellers with the sixth annual eBay Canada Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, a program to find the most productive and innovative sellers among the tens of thousands of Canadians who gain income on the world's largest online marketplace.

In addition to the overall Entrepreneur of the Year award, this year eBay Canada will offer an Innovator of the Year award to a Canadian who uses innovative practices to engage and attract customers and build their online business. eBay Canada will also present a Family Business of the Year award to a deserving recipient who sells on eBay with the help of family members.

Winners of this year's contest will be featured in communication to millions of Canadian eBay buyers and will receive a combination of cash and professional development to help grow their business.

"We're out to discover examples of great Canadian entrepreneurial innovation and productivity," said Andrea Stairs, country manager for eBay Canada. "We know that using eBay to generate income can often be a family affair, so we want to find and recognize the very best examples of husbands and wives, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters putting eBay to work for them. Canadians sell over a million items on eBay every month and, after 10 years in Canada, eBay has been a part of some remarkable Canadian business success stories."

Last year's Entrepreneur of the Year winner, Shaun Shienfield, turned to eBay to increase online sales of his premium pre-owned golf balls. Since then, his business has grown significantly. He fills hundreds of orders a day and has even set up a call centre to meet demand. To date, his business has helped save golfers $20-million and is the largest seller of premium pre-owned golf balls online.

Launched in 2000, eBay.ca has connected millions of buyers and sellers across the country, helping them to explore worldwide online commerce opportunities. eBay has been an important enabler of small business in Canada, with total items sold numbering more than 114-million.

The Entrepreneur of the Year Award program is open to all full- and part-time eBay sellers aged 18 years and older. Entrants will also be considered for the Innovator of the Year and the Family Business of the Year categories, if applicable.

About the 2010 eBay Canada Entrepreneur of the Year awards program:

A winner will receive a cash prize of $2,500 for the Entrepreneur of the Year category and $1,500 will be awarded for each of the Innovator of the Year and Family Business of the Year titles. All three winners will also enjoy $500 towards a business-related course or workshop and promotion to more than two-million eBay buyers.

    
    -   Entrants must meet eligibility criteria in order to enter the
        competition and answer essay questions.
    -   Entries must be received by midnight (ET) on August 15, 2010.
    -   Winners will be announced during Canadian Small Business Month in
        October.
    -   For more information and to enter, visit: www.ebay.ca/entrepreneurs.
    

eBay Canada supports the Canadian economy

    
    -   Last year, the average Canadian eBay user purchased almost $400 worth
        of goods.
    -   Over the last 10 years, Canadians have purchased more than $7-billion
        worth of goods on eBay.
    -   More than 5.7-million Canadians have bought an item on eBay.
    -   Approximately 850,000 Canadians have sold an item on eBay.
    -   Since 2000, 114-million items have been sold by Canadians on eBay.
    -   Canadians now buy more than $1-billion worth of goods on eBay every
        12 months and sell more than one-million items every month.
    

About eBay Canada

Founded in 1995 in San Jose, Calif., eBay Inc. connects millions of buyers and sellers globally on a daily basis through eBay, the world's largest online marketplace, and PayPal, which enables individuals and businesses to securely, easily and quickly send and receive online payments. We also reach millions through specialized marketplaces such as StubHub, the world's largest ticket marketplace, and eBay Classifieds sites, which together have a presence in more than 1,000 cities around the world. In Canada, eBay was visited by nearly 8.3-million Canadians in March 2010. (comScore Media Metrix).

For further information: For media inquires, contact: Nazia Khan, Environics Communications for eBay Canada, [email protected], [phone]; Elisabeth Napolano, Environics Communications for eBay Canada, [email protected], [phone]