eBay and PayPal at Mobile World Congress
During his keynote speech at Mobile World Congress 2012, eBay president and CEO John Donahoe talked mobile commerce. Consumers look to digital services to purchase goods, compare prices, determine product availability and read reviews, Donahoe said. “Mobile devices are blurring the boundary between what used to be called e-commerce and retail. Mobile devices are making that boundary redundant.” eBay is on pace to reach $8 billion in mobile gross merchandise volume in 2012, up from $5 billion in 2011. [via CNBC]

Further News
+ Websites racing to be the “Facebook” of style.
+ Apple’s iPad 3 announcement electrifies eCommerce community
+ INFOGRAPHIC: The state of social commerce

Posts From the Week
+ UPDATED: [VIDEO] eBay Ink Behind the Scenes: Sellers discuss the eBay Seller Update: Spring 2012
+ eBay Inc. CEO John Donahoe keynotes Mobile World Congress 2012; video interview with the Wall Street Journal
+ eBay Seller Update: Spring 2012
+ [VIDEO] eBay Ink Behind the Scenes: Learn more about the eBay Seller Update: Spring 2012
+ eBay and PayPal announce new partnerships at Mobile World Congress

Looking Back on eBay Ink
March 8, 2011: On the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day, @WorldofGood_com wants to know who inspires you? The folks over at WorldofGood.com are celebrating the International Women’s Day Centenary by highlighting women that inspire them. They’re asking for your inspiration too. From the WorldofGood post:

What woman in your life – mother, teacher, role model, friend – inspires you, and why? Through midnight PT on Tuesday, March 8, share your thoughts with us in the comments [click here to leave a comment] The author of our favorite entry will receive a handwoven and embroidered wool bucket bag, made by Jenny Krauss, an organization of women artisans in Peru. (P.S. – We’ll ask our winner for a photo of themselves and/or the woman that inspires her (or him!) so we can feature your entry on our homepage.)

To be honest, I have a lot of women that have inspired me over the years. From my Mum, to my wife, to my friend Libby Reder – co-founder of the eBay Green Team back in the day – so it will be difficult to single out just one. However, I’m going to take the time to honor that one person over on the WorldofGood.com site and I encourage you to do the same.

eBay Ink Weekend Roundup is a summary of news and updates around eBay, PayPal, Social Media, Technology and E-commerce. Let us know what interests you.

eBay to Acquire WHI Solutions
WHI Solutions, (WHI) is a provider of software and digital catalog solutions for auto parts distributors and retailers has entered into an agreement with eBay. With the agreement, eBay now has access to millions of auto parts through Nexpart, WHI’s e-commerce solution. WHI Solutions also offers an e-catalog for electronic parts and service dealer data for over 39,000 North American vehicles.

PayPal to Expand in Ireland
PayPal is reportedly hiring 1,000 workers in Ireland over the next four years. This will bring the company’s total employment in Ireland up to 2,400 by 2016, making it one of the largest internet employers in the country. Louise Phelan, a vice-president of global operations for PayPal, said the expansion was necessary to support the double digit growth the Irish operations were experiencing. According to Ms Phelan, the new recruits will work on creating the “future of money”. [via Wall Street Journal]

Further News
+ A list of the top seven essential things you need to know about mobile commerce.
+ Social shopping is more than a click on an e-commerce site.
+ The American Customer Satisfaction Index reported customer online shopping satisfaction inched up 1%.
+ Why social networking sites want your personal information.

Posts From the Week
+ eBay to Acquire WHI Solutions

Looking Back on eBay Ink
February 18, 2011: In a week of rankings and top 50 lists, eBay is ranked #22 for “transforming the mobile marketplace” on Fast Company’s 50 Most Innovative Companies 2011 (a list eBay didn’t even make back in 2010). Another sign of the company’s continued focus on tech and innovation when connecting buyers and sellers.

After what eBay has done over the past 12 months, it’s time to stop thinking of the company just as, well, whatever you’ve been thinking of it as: auction site; Internet stock monster; Meg Whitman launching pad. The new eBay is mobile, mainstream, and fashionable…

…The results have redefined the brand. The company sold almost $2 billion worth of goods via smartphones and tab-lets in 2010, more than double the total sales from 2009.

eBay made the top ten in Mobile coming in second only to Foursquare. Skype also made the list at #4.

eBay Ink Weekend Roundup is a summary of news and updates around eBay, PayPal, Social Media, Technology and E-commerce. Let us know what interests you.

eBay Buyers, Sellers Give Record $63 Million To Charity In 2011
eBay enabled its users to give a record $63 million, or $120 a minute to charitable causes last year. The PayPal division also processed $3 billion in transactions for more than 200,000 nonprofits. eBay launched the celebrity page in early November, which recently included a $10,200 sale of Miami Marlins shortstop Jose Reyes’ dreadlocks to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida. To learn more about eBay’s philanthropic reach, check out the Giving Works page. [via eBay Ink]

Further News
+ Check out the most popular products bought online in 2012.
+ Infographic: What Drives Mobile Commerce?
+ Pinterest may be changing the social commerce game, but why?

Posts From the Week
+ eBay Ink to host second eBay Chat on 2/16 at 4pm PST with Goodwill International
+ INVITATION: Crisis Communications in the age of social media
+ eBay enables record amount of socially conscious commerce in 2011

Looking Back on eBay Ink
February 16, 2011: eBay has taken the number one spot in a new ranking of the the top social media brands, carried out by Yomego. A number of factors were involved in tabulating the list but from what I can tell it was primarily based on overall reach and satisfaction in determining where companies landed in the Top 50.

eBay Ink Weekend Roundup is a summary of news and updates around eBay, PayPal, Social Media, Technology and E-commerce. Let us know what interests you.

eBay Shares Social Media Advice for Online Sellers
eBay prepared a guide for sellers on “social media selling,” advising sellers on how to use social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and blogs to promote their eBay listings. They styleguide counsels sellers to genuinely contribute to the conversation, don’t spam your fans and don’t be controversial. [via eBay]

Further News
+ Social media is helping drive the economy and empowering the people.
+ Mobile companies continue to see support from venture capitalists.
+ Physical stores want features that let them become more like online stores.

Posts From the Week
+ John Donahoe on consumer & retail shifts at the DLD Conference
+ eBay employees are invited to Bring it. Sell it. Ship it.
+ eBay’s Paul Jones receives Industry Service Award from Jewelers’ Security Alliance (JSA)

Looking Back on eBay Ink
January 27, 2010: eBay Buyers & Sellers gave $54.8 Million to nonprofits in 2010 through @eBayGiving. In a world where things rarely seem to shock or surprise anymore, the capacity to give never ceases to amaze me. A record $54.8 million was donated to U.S. and U.K. nonprofit organizations by eBay buyers and sellers in 2010. A donation was made every 24 seconds through eBay Giving Works, raising more than $91 every minute for nonprofits. Nearly 9 million items were listed for sale in 2010 – with all or a portion of the sale price donated to a nonprofit – more than double the items listed in 2009.Since eBay Giving Works was launched in 2003, $230 million has been raised for U.S. and U.K. charities and currently lists over 650,000 charity items on the marketplace.

eBay Ink Weekend Roundup is a summary of news and updates around eBay, PayPal, Social Media, Technology and E-commerce. Let us know what interests you.