Thanks to the ever-connected environment, cross-border trade is in full bloom. Still, differences in taxation, government policies, customs and culture can be a hindrance to 21st-century baron-wannabes.
EBay Korea, operator of Korea’s largest online shopping site Gmarket and Auction.co.kr, has been dedicated to supporting small- to mid-size vendors to tap the global market through its platform. From translation to logistics, delivery and customer service, it has provided a wide range of services essential in cross-border trade.
Baek Jin-young (left) and Baek Ji-hoon, winners of eBay’s Export Star Contest, pose for the press. (eBay Korea)
The vendors are encouraged to use the Global Export Platform, where they can enlist themselves and their goods to eBay around the world. They are entitled to receive free on- and offline training as well as 1-1 consulting on international transactions.
Among such cases is 3C, a group of university students who received a special prize at the fourth eBay Export Star Contest last year. The three members of the group ―Baek Jin-young, Baek Ji-hoon and Park Dae-young ― sold T-shirts to the U.S., Canada and Germany through eBay.
The team explained that seeing many foreigners at the bustling district of Myeong-dong, Seoul, inspired them to sell fashion items. 3C took training courses from eBay on how to link the business to PayPal as well as on trends in the retail industry.
“We sent Korean snacks and handwritten letters alongside our products so that our customers could get a glimpse of Korean culture. This was met with good response,” Baek Ji-hoon said, adding that the training was quite useful in understanding the trading process and others.
“We are trying to create an environment where anyone willing to sell their items can become global sellers. Korean products are getting popular overseas and we will put our efforts into supporting them,” said Song Seung-hwan, head of eBay Korea’s cross-border trade department.
By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)
