If you weren't at the open or were but missed the keynote speech..

[ojewellery]

After a trip to an event at eBay Richmond I and another seller along with a fair bit of communication with eBay have started a plan for eBay regional meetups.   It got mentioned in the keynote with a QR code on the screen to join the facebook group about the event and for general eBay business seller chat in a lightly moderated environment - the group questions do ask for seller ID so we can attempt to ensure we're just eBay business sellers in the group.

There's a master plan for getting a bit of inside info to feed into the group like keywords and trends, there's also a hope that we can do themed social campaigns to collectively boost each other.  Its very early days so we'll see what we and anyone who wants to join can make of it.  

Its not a new idea they run these successfully in the US and there have been a few variations of things started in the UK over the years.

The first one in this format is local to me in Manchester to be held in October.  EBay are sending someone along.  If you'd like to start a group nearer to you they're looking for other interested sellers to lead in different regions.

All business sellers are welcome to join the facebook group regardless of where you're based.

The facebook group is called EBayManchesterMeetup

I'm hoping as eBay announced it in the keynote and we've spent many meetings running things through ebay to deal with eBay internal legals the following link will be permissible:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ebaymanchestermeetup

[therenewalworkshopltd]

I did catch the tail end of that mention and did wonder what it was.

But Manchester is close enough, I'll have a look see.

[ojewellery]

Its not yet a ridgid thing as we hope it can evolve to be what any particular area of eBay business sellers need - rather than be prescriptive from the start. 

We hope that by having a lightly moderated, but critically closed chat group, more data information can be published and people can feel free to communicate in a more private space. 

I know I benefit from meeting up with other sellers and hearing their stories, whats working, knowing its not just me on the things that aren't.  I generally find coming away from any meetings with other sellers I have a new enthusiasm and those little golden nuggets of information that give me something new to try.

[sheba-knows-best]

Thanks OJ

I am a bit of a trek from Manchester but not too far. I have asked to join group anyway. 

[ojewellery]

Thank you for the sign ups - its a very new group and should evolve over time to meet what people want.  For now I'm trying various different things from other groups and gaining feedback.

At the open a link was also posted to a google form to register interest in setting up a regional group or be notified when one is set up closer to you.  I've managed to get hold of it if its of use to anyone:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdo40lVQsOA-l9hwMjRvYvNJERkRz4YsZixe0cPDxjnHSyRKg/viewform?...

[moldosgifts]

Even manchester is too far from me preston much better it is more central for lancashire.

[ojewellery]

I realise Manchester isn't centre of the universe (so fortunately, for those not near to Manchester, do eBay) hence the google form for other groups.  They need people to coordinate each group though so I guess the locations will grow as people volunteer.

[moldosgifts]

Heres hopeing but as they grow they then become less ebay invovled, become more a group then an expo.

What i want is a more central for an area so preston, lancaster, manchesr, liverpool etc just to cover NW.

With full ebay involvment so you can get required info to a smaller group and get a better impact from it.

I could'nt make it had car trouble then a family emergancy on the day so did'nt even attend on my computer life got in the way for me.

[fatbobfan]

Good luck, hope this becomes somewthing for you all

[ojewellery]

@moldosgifts interesting comments on location.  Where would you say is the centre of the North West? 

I'm Warrington so midway Manchester/ Liverpool.  Both have great transport links and Warrington is a railroad cross track point with direct train links up and down as well as across so Preston, Lancaster, Liverpool, Manchester are each just a short journey away and I'm a short walk from the station.

The eBay involvement/ not involvement, Business vs Private seller, discussion is something we've had with contacts at eBay quite a bit.

For our group, being in early, we've been able to define what we think will work for us (but open for evolution and learning as we go), we don't want lots of presentations and slideshows, mandates by eBay or eBay moderation of the group.  We know the need to let off steam and have a good moan about something that isn't right, then appreciate the benefit of community for dusting off and finding a new way forwards.  We want people to be free to do that.

We decided we wanted the Manchester group to be just business sellers.  We believe we're going to be able to get some data not published elsewhere to share in the community and this is an advantage for business sellers, private have their deal they don't need market trend information and key words as private sellers.  

All that being said we are thinking of having a bit of a theme for each 3 hour session - maybe 20 minutes from someone in the know about something very relevant to the group, it'd be informal and act as an icebreaker and discussion point.  We've also got eBay staff coming along to early sessions to feed in and learn from the group - longer term whether we want to take shared issues from the group back to eBay post group and allow free conversation flow out of eBay earshot is something up for discussion.  The facebook group is the same.  Some people have asked to sign up that don't fit our business seller profile, but presently its eBay business sellers.  If any eBay staff ultimately do join, it would be with full disclosure of who they are.