After a two-year partnership with WorldofGood.com, eBay has acquired the socially conscience company, and will integrate the marketplace with its own, the two companies announced today.
For five years, WorldofGood.com has provided artisans in remote locations across the world a way to sell their products, and in 2008, the company teamed up with eBay to create WorldofGood.com by eBay, a marketplace centered on environmentally and socially responsible trade. With thousands of products from 85 countries, WorldofGood.com by eBay was the largest multi-seller marketplace online, it notes on its About Us page—and now the marketplace could get bigger with eBay's acquisition of the company, according to news reports.
eBay says the acquisition shows the auction site's commitment to social change through sustainable commerce, as well as World of Good's commitment to create "the greatest market opportunity for small, Fair Trade and environmentally responsible producers around the world."
"We are excited about the opportunity to scale the World of Good mission to an unprecedented degree through eBay," says Priya Haji, World of Good's co-founder and CEO.
Robert Chatwani, director of eBay Global Citizenship, adds that eBay is looking forward to providing an "integrated, sustainable shopping experience" within eBay's marketplace.
"[We] are dedicated to applying our reach, resources and business model to create a positive impact for people, the planet and communities throughout the world," he says.
Terms of the sale were not disclosed.
WorldofGood.com also sold its wholesale division and line of Fair Trade products to GreaterGood/Charity USA, another socially conscious organization. These items will be rebranded, the companies note, while maintaining current partnerships with the artisans who create them.
Auctiva staff writers constantly monitor trends and best practices of those selling on eBay and elsewhere online. They attend relevant training seminars and trade shows and regularly discuss the market with PowerSellers and other market experts.
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