Meet Anna P., the creative mind behind “Annaesthetic Miscellany,” where she has successfully sold over 15,000 eclectic items and boasts an impressive 99.8% positive feedback rating. A former psychotherapist and psychology adjunct professor, Anna turned to eBay full-time after experiencing profound loss and professional burnout. 

What began as a side gig transformed into a thriving business that offers her the flexibility and stability she craved. She’s now one of the millions of entrepreneurs who rely on eBay to turn their passions into small business success. 

A New Beginning

Her journey began when Anna stumbled upon a podcast called “Scavenger Life.” In the podcast, a couple described how they made eBay their main source of income. They spoke about finances, over-consumption in the U.S. and all things eBay. Anna became intrigued, and decided to give the online marketplace her own try.

She began taking on fewer clients at her practice to free up more time for her budding eBay business.

When in January 2019 Anna’s beloved aunt experienced a sudden medical crisis, Anna dropped everything to go home for three weeks and take care of her. During that time, she canceled her therapy appointments, but her eBay business ensured she could still pay her bills. Shortly after, her aunt passed away, and Anna realized the value of her time. She wanted to spend her days doing things that fueled her, such as spending time with her family and working on personal creative projects. Her time away from work revealed the potential of eBay as not just a hobby, but as a lifeline that could support her through life’s unpredictabilities.

Today, she operates a highly organized one-woman show from her basement in rural Illinois, where she sells a mix of items sourced from thrift stores and yard sales. She’s far from the only rural American making a living on eBay. In fact, 43% of eBay sellers live in small towns or rural areas.

Opportunities and Connections

With 7,733 active listings, Anna is a staunch advocate for the eBay seller community. She co-hosts a podcast with sneaker seller Ken G about growing eBay businesses and attends eBay-sponsored events, emphasizing the mutually beneficial relationship between the online marketplace and its sellers. She appreciates the robust buyer protections and the extensive resources eBay offers to make it easier for small business owners to thrive. 

Anna even jokingly calls eBay’s International Shipping Program, which makes it possible for small businesses to easily reach customers around the world,  the “love of her life.” 

“I really appreciate how much effort eBay puts into that premise of creating economic opportunity for all,” Anna said. “And it’s not just creating it, it is creating it and then empowering us and equipping us and helping us succeed as we continue, which I think is really powerful.”

More Than Just a Job

One of the most touching moments in Anna's eBay journey was when she sold a small stuffed animal. Anna didn’t think much of this toy until the mother who purchased it reached out to share that it was the same toy that her 8-year-old daughter had gifted her best friend when she passed away. The mother wanted her daughter to have her own to remember her friend by, and was thankful Anna put it on eBay. Stories like these remind her of the profound impact her business can have on people’s lives.

For Anna, selling on eBay represents more than just a job; it embodies hope and the possibility of a fulfilling lifestyle. She believes eBay provides exceptional access to economic opportunity, empowering individuals to carve their own paths.

“Starting to sell on eBay represented so much hope for a lifestyle that I didn't think I would have access to ever,” Anna reflects. “...the open-mindedness and creativity of eBay to exist and be available for people to figure out some way in which they can support themselves in a way that actually works for them, is pretty unparalleled.”