Four businesses – from Vancouver, Toronto, Lacombe and Sherbrooke – awarded as national
winners of eBay's annual program in celebration of Small Business
Month
TORONTO, Oct. 8, 2024
/CNW/ - Small businesses play a vital role in fostering creativity,
resilience, and innovation in the Canadian economy, and eBay is
recognizing four unique sellers who embody these qualities as
winners of the 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. Now in its
20th year, the awards celebrate the achievements of Canadian
businesses on eBay's global marketplace, recognizing a diverse
spectrum of sellers and the many paths to entrepreneurship.
"Our Entrepreneur of the Year award winners have harnessed
eBay's global reach to thrive locally and connect with buyers
worldwide, demonstrating the power of ecommerce to generate new
opportunities and growth," said Garry
Thaniel, General Manager, eBay Canada. "I'm deeply impressed by the spirit of
entrepreneurship I see amongst our Canadian seller community – the
commitment to building strong relationships, to gaining a deep
understanding of customers, and to strategically scaling their
businesses is inspiring."
This year eBay introduced a new category to its award lineup –
Small Town Entrepreneur – to recognize sellers based outside
of major metropolitan areas and support the ecommerce presence of
Canada's rural and small-town
businesses.
The 2024 eBay Canada Entrepreneur of the Year Awards winners
are:
- Entrepreneur of the Year – Jessica Oman and Johann
Furrer of Storage Warrior in Vancouver, BC. Starting with just $225 in 2012, Jessica and Johann have grown their
business to nearly 7,000 active listings on eBay, achieving
six-figure annual revenues. The business transitioned from a side
hobby to a full-time career in the e-commerce and collectibles
world, and all growth and investments have been funded by the
business itself. Beyond their business success, Jessica and Johann
are building on their commitment to local waste diversion by
supporting organizations like the Binner's Project, a charity that
empowers waste pickers, reduces environmental waste, and promotes
alternative income opportunities.
- Micro-Multinational of the Year – Angus Grant of Double Duncan Treasures,
in Toronto, ON. From beginning
with just a few items found curbside, Angus built a thriving
business on eBay specializing in secondhand items like video game
consoles, DVDs, books, toys, and even film and TV props. Since
launching his eBay store in 2017, Angus has expanded operations by
sourcing items from a more extensive range of channels, including
garage sales and thrift stores, growing his sales from a few
hundred dollars a month to thousands, with international sales
reaching buyers across five continents.
- Small Town Entrepreneur– Rodney
Jamieson of TeamChevelle and One Hill
Collectibles, in Lacombe, AB.
Previously a shop teacher and Vice Principal in rural Alberta, Rodney combined his passion for cars
and shop knowledge to purchase and disassemble older vehicles for
their parts, primarily selling to markets in the southern
United States where harsh
conditions can damage these items. During the COVID-19 pandemic,
Rodney launched a second eBay store focused on collectibles,
quickly becoming the go-to person in the area for purchasing full
trading card collections. Beyond his business success, Rodney
actively supports his community through donations to local teams
and clubs.
- Emerging Ecommerce Entrepreneur of the Year –
Yannick Plante,Pascal Boutin, and Dominic
Vaillancourt of PMCtire in Sherbrooke, QC. Founded in 2008 in the
basement of Yannick's home, the business, focused on tires, wheels
and automotive parts, grew to include their own mechanic shop,
along with two Quebec-based
warehouses for online orders. Dominic joined the PMCtire team in
2015, taking on the role of Ecommerce Project Manager in 2020. In
the fall of 2022 the company seized the opportunity to expand their
online presence by launching an eBay account, allowing them to
reach a global audience and generate record sales for the business
in 2023.
Read the winners' full bios here.
About eBay Canada's
Entrepreneur of the Year Awards
This year's award winners, selected from a record number of
online submissions, will receive cash prizes ranging from
$5,000 CAD to $10,000 CAD to reinvest into their businesses,
along with a professional photography session.
Categories include:
- The Entrepreneur of the Year: Celebrating the small
business that best represents the drive, passion, and
entrepreneurial spirit of eBay's seller community.
- The Micro-Multinational of the Year: Recognizing an eBay
seller who has used eBay to bring a Canadian business to a global
customer base.
- The Emerging Ecommerce Entrepreneur Award: Recognizes an
eBay seller who has achieved success in building a resilient and
thriving business by integrating e-commerce as a new sales
channel.
- The Small Town Seller of the Year: Recognizes a seller
from outside of Canada's major
metro areas, helping bring Canada's rural and small-town mainstreet
online.
More information on the eBay Canada Entrepreneur of the Year
Awards can be found at eBay.ca/eoy.
To learn more about bringing your business online with eBay,
visit eBay.ca/upandrunning.
About eBay
eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY) is a global commerce leader that
connects people and builds communities to create economic
opportunity for all. Our technology empowers millions of buyers and
sellers in more than 190 markets around the world, providing
everyone the opportunity to grow and thrive. Founded in 1995 in
San Jose, California, eBay is one
of the world's largest and most vibrant marketplaces for
discovering great value and unique selection. In 2023, eBay enabled
more than $73 billion of gross
merchandise volume. For more information about the company and its
global portfolio of online brands, visit www.ebayinc.com.
SOURCE eBay Canada
