Ken G., who immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines more than a decade ago, calls his life an example of the “American dream.” He came to the U.S. with two suitcases, now he’s the owner of a thriving sneaker store on eBay, The Hustle Bee.

Now, he and his wife work full time running their company out of their 1,500-square-foot basement, affectionately nicknamed “the beehive,” where they manage more than 2,500 items at a time. Their days are spent acquiring new shoes, posting listings and shipping orders to sneakerheads around the world. Ken has found community with other sellers while growing his business. 

“eBay is the ultimate expression of opportunity,” Ken said.   

Spark of an Idea

Before Ken was an eBay seller, he was a lifelong sneaker lover who shopped on the platform to add to his collection. When he and his wife wanted to buy tickets to visit friends and family in the Philippines, Ken recognized his sneakers could help them get there. He sold a few pairs at a significant profit and quickly realized he had found a way to make a living from his passion for sneakers.

Ken credits eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee for helping to supercharge his business. Products purchased through the Authenticity Guarantee are sent to a facility where highly trained experts examine them to ensure they’re legitimate.

“It’s probably the biggest gamechanger since I started selling in 2017,” Ken said. The program gave customers confidence when shopping with small businesses on eBay.

Giving back to the eBay community

Ken built both a business and a community on eBay. He now hosts a podcast, the Seller Club, with other small business owners who rely on eBay to reach customers. Together, he and other eBay veterans offer new sellers tips for growing their businesses and thrive on eBay.

“It's welcoming people to the club. We call it the seller club, so it's exclusive, but everybody's invited,” Ken said.

Ken is one of millions of entrepreneurs making a living on eBay. Learn more about our work to support small businesses here.