Delivering the Goods: eBay Consultants

Here is another great example of finding an unexpected niche in the consulting industry. One of eBay's first "Certified Service Providers" has expanded its capabilities and now offers consulting services specific to eBay sellers. The company, As Was, initially served as a web developer, of sorts, creating specialized templates for eBay stores. After accumulating years of selling secrets, the company is consulting clients on everything from building an eBay name brand to implementing more targeted sales strategies. On one hand, it may seem that this is a little late in coming, given that eBay has already been a shining star for so many sellers. However, it could also be seen as a very timely way to diversify an already niche-based company when sales for one service may have already peaked, or be close to doing so. Consider that in the first quarter of 2008 eBay brought in over $2 billion (yes - billion) in revenue. Second, consider that recent changes to selling fees and other back-end fees have potentially narrowed the margins for those serious about running an eBay business. Finally, with eBay having opened up to the global marketplace, the business is increasingly competitive.

More than likely, other companies are offering similar consulting services but As Was is playing off the strength of their reputation as a long-time eBay-certified provider. It's certainly an advantage others might not have. In fact, this is probably also a good example of how a company may have used a SWOT analysis to identify a natural expansion opportunity based on market conditions - both good and bad.