Hi Lesley
What I found when trying to promote our business merchandise here versus our website, was that our customers did not want to "sign up for/figure out another auction site." These were people I spoke with face-to-face, who buy from us at shows and through our website, and who will generally give something a look if we suggest it to them. Our prices here were cheaper, our shipping here was cheaper, they could use PayPal here as they do on our website, but not a single person made the switch. A few of our business items sold through eBid and garnered positive feedback, but never to our regular online customers. Our regulars are happy to do business with us online, but will only do that through the portal they are familiar with.
For a number of months in 2010 I removed our business listings and closed the Elements of Rejuvenation eBid shop. During that time I continued to sell personal odds and ends on eBid as a private seller. I had grown weary of the vitriol in many of the "business seller vs. private seller" discussions, even though we US sellers are merely watching the fray from the sidelines. I was unwilling to put one iota of energy into even relisting items that were barely selling, and could be drawn into the "business vs. private seller" mess. I recently re-opened the eBid business shop with the candles that Mark makes, so we'll see how that goes. Even if I decide to relist the hundreds of items I pulled from eBid, for us it wouldn't pay to have eBid be our only online store. Hopefully your experience will be better, if that is the direction you choose.
I am very tardy in thanking you for the lovely card you made in October, when Mark's youngest son got married. The colors you chose matched their colors perfectly, and all these months later people are still remarking on its beauty. Both of his sons have the wedding cards you made for them on display in their curio cabinets.