Cookstown learns how to earn on ebay

NORTHERN Ireland Electricity (NIE) is sponsoring the first ever Ebay training event in Cookstown.

The course, which is being run with the support of Cookstown Enterprise Centre, will take place at Cookstown Enterprise Centre on Thursday and Friday, October 18-19 (2pm-4.30pm on Thursday and 9.30am-4.30pm on Friday).

The course offers training to Cookstown businesses on how to master the art of making money on ebay.

The 'Basics of selling on ebay' course is being delivered by Michael Hughes, the only trained and approved ebay education specialist in Ireland.

The training, which is for small and medium-sized businesses within the area, will cover amongst other things how to register on Ebay, how to research, buy and sell on Ebay, plus how to spot scams and avoid them.

Alison Moore of NIE said, "Ebay now has over 200 million subscribers worldwide, 15 million of them in the UK alone.

"Sales on ebay this year will top £25 billion and around one million users make all or most of their income on it. UK residents spend more per head online than any other population in Europe.

"This is an excellent business opportunity for Cookstown businesses to set out their stall and sell their wares on the worldwide web.

"NIE is delighted to be able to support this first of a kind training course in Ireland."

Recent research conducted indicates that Northern Ireland companies are at the bottom of internet usage and online selling, which is also true for Ebay sales.

Ciaran Higgins, Manager of Cookstown Enterprise Centre, added, "Northern Ireland small businesses are missing out on significant online domestic sales and export opportunities.

"A recent survey reported that Ebay has created up to 30,000 new jobs within the 'cottage industry' type businesses in the UK, giving previously unsustainable and rural based businesses an export lifeline.

"It has the potential to offer small businesses a more level playing field than has previously existed in terms of successfully capturing on-line sales opportunities and getting established within the export market."

Course participants will receive training from Ebay trainer Michael Hughes, the only featured instructor in Europe.

As a precursor to becoming an accredited trainer, Michael has been in business for 20 years and has been trading on ebay for the last 18 months.

In that time, he has generated additional £30,000 revenue via the internet auction site.

"I know from experience that ebay opens up a world of opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses," he said.

"With your own website you have to design, maintain, manage and market it yourself whereas on ebay 95% of that work is done for you and an audience of 200 million can see your products."

If you are interested in finding out more about this Ebay training course, please contact Michael on 028 7083 4600.