I agree that Amazon has been quietly sneaking up on the outside over the last year, many ebay sellers seem to have established a presence there.

I’m all for not keeping my eggs in one basket, but one of the issues (particularly as a sole trader) is the time needed to invest in and maintain a new channel, including getting familiar with the listing / administrative processes, and probably the most challenging is stock management (talking myself into a Channel Advisor subscription here ).

However, I think you could well be right about the importance in future of smaller niche sites, and maybe I need to make the time to investigate more. I have heard of etsy – there is also a very much smaller and less established auction site called craftjumble in my field too.

Amazon is now creeping into the frame, although it is still not suitable for every category, but apart from them, my view is still as it was 6 years ago.

Ebay is still streets ahead of anything else.

Etsy does look good, and has a good USP. Other auction sites have tried to niche other categories, but with limited success at present. Other than viral marketing (as this for Etsy) how can they afford to market themselves sufficiently to catch up on the big players?

Very chicken and egg imho.

Anyone got any perspectives?