From Local Shop to Global Business: The Rise of Wallycorker on eBay
In a small town of Wath, John Moralee, a retired steel industry worker, has turned his passion for collecting sporting memorabilia into a thriving business on eBay. His company, wallycorker, was founded around four years ago and has grown into a limited company, employing John's wife and daughter. The business began when John's brother-in-law bought the iconic Tesh's shop, which had been closed for 20 years, and discovered a treasure trove of old stock. Some items were donated to charity, while others were sold on eBay, yielding remarkable results.
Key Takeaways:
- John Moralee, a retired steel industry worker, started his business, wallycorker, around four years ago, which has grown into a limited company employing his wife and daughter.
- The business began when John's brother-in-law bought Tesh's shop, a prominent building in Wath, which had been closed for 20 years, and discovered a lot of old stock.
- Some of the stock was sold on eBay, including a child's batman finger mask made out of foam, which sold for over £450 to a collector.
- Another item sold on eBay was a pack of playing cards designed by Charles Eames, which sold to an American film director for £522.
- John's passion for collecting sporting memorabilia, such as cigarette cards and football programmes, helped him become a natural on eBay.
- He now sells a wide range of items, from sew-on badges to magazines, and prefers to focus mainly on the web due to the distraction of personal callers.
- John has a positive reputation on eBay, with a rating of 7,769, and is interested in partnering with others to sell their items, such as old farming-related magazines.
Statistics:
- £522: amount paid by an American film director for a pack of playing cards designed by Charles Eames.
- £450: amount paid by a collector for a child's batman finger mask made out of foam.
- 7,769: John's positive rating on eBay based on feedback from previous buyers.
- 20 years: length of time Tesh's shop had been closed before being bought by John's brother-in-law.
- 4 years: length of time John's business, wallycorker, has been operating.
Sources:
- wathnewstrust.co.uk
- No other sources mentioned in the text.