*This blog originally appeared on ebayinc.com

This fall, we welcomed 65 inspiring Baton Rouge small business entrepreneurs into our Retail Revival program. This new cohort of sellers already is showing fast promise and represents a diverse group of entrepreneurs and businesses, from scrappy start-ups to well-established enterprises. 

In September, the group came together for the first time at our kick-off event at Louisiana State University, where they heard from several eBay leaders, including Sam Bright, Vice President of Hard and Soft Goods; Dominique Hollins, Head of Marketplace Diversity; and Greg Crabb, Customer Experience Supervisor. The kick-off showcased key learnings, best practices and insights into the programs, services and products eBay offers to support our sellers worldwide. 

Now, just two months into the Retail Revival program, our Baton Rouge sellers are off to an impressive start. Check out some of the ways they’ve made strides within their local community and on our marketplace.

Refinery29 x eBay 

Time Warp Boutique’s Makenzie Godso off to the post office with a full bag of successful sales!

eBay recently launched a partnership with Refinery29, featuring R29’s global editor-in-chief Christene Barberich’s favorite picks, spotlighting the season’s top trends and must-haves from eBay’s vibrant marketplace. Baton Rouge’s own Time Warp Boutique was featured among Barberich’s selects alongside other eBay small businesses in a texture trend series. 

Supporting BREW 

Photo courtesy of BREW

eBay proudly sponsored BREW (Baton Rouge Entrepreneurship Week). Baton Rouge Retail Revival sellers Dr. Boyce Clark of Lubricity Labs, Matt Beeson of Swamp Dragon Hot Sauce and Damien Mitchell of Damien Mitchell Design Co. spoke on stage at the event, sharing the stories of their entrepreneurship journey. 

At BREW’s opening expo, several Retail Revival sellers, joined by their eBay business coaches, showcased their products during the public event to the Baton Rouge community. 

KAWD Art at AfroTech

Earlier this month, eBay partnered with Kristen Downing of KAWD Art to create custom, hand-painted designs on six pairs of sneakers, which were auctioned off at the annual AfroTech Conference in Oakland, California. The proceeds were matched by the eBay Foundation and donated to The Hidden Genius Project, a non-profit organization that trains and mentors black male youth in technology creation, entrepreneurship and leadership skills to transform their lives and communities. 

During her time in California, Kristen also came by eBay headquarters in San Jose and joined our Chief Diversity Officer, Damien Hooper-Campbell, for a fireside chat with eBay’s YearUp interns on campus. She also met with several eBay team members from our global customer experience and buyer experience teams to further develop her eBay store and skills as a seller. 

Shop Small This Holiday Season

Through programs like Retail Revival, entrepreneurs in Baton Rouge and across the country can stay local and sell global. This holiday season, buyers can shop a unique selection of products from our small business sellers to find that perfect something for everyone on their nice lists. You can find this curated holiday gift guide at www.ebay.com/ShopSmall. Shop small, give big!  

About Retail Revival

Baton Rouge is our fourth U.S. partner city for Retail Revival, following Akron, Ohio; Lansing, Michigan; and Greensboro, North Carolina.

Our goal with Retail Revival is simple — to help local retailers thrive in the global market while deepening  their neighborhood roots and contributing to the economic vibrancy of their communities. Learn more about Retail Revival.