Dan DaranciangWhile some first-year students are focused on a smooth transition into college, six freshmen have a much different concern: running their own business.
Last fall, the team of Mike Behrens, Chris Byrne, Stephen Harrison, Zack Kaplan, Andrew Pazandak and Zach Satlin bought Campus Easy Sales in a heated auction from a group of juniors. Although they admit the auction drove up the price for the business, the team is happy with the decision to purchase the company.
Campus Easy Sales, a registered eBay Trading Assistant, sells goods brought in by students online.
“When a customer first brings in an item, we take a picture. If it is an item of clothing, we have a mannequin to display the clothes for the photo. The item is then shipped off to UPS. We also create a short description of the item. There is a template we use that was here before we took over, but we tweaked it a little bit,” said Harrison, the head of expansion and PR.
All of the owners had experience with eBay before undertaking Campus Easy Sales.
“In high school, I had a couple of friends that sold stuff on eBay and made a lot of money,” said Pazandak, head of sales. “They showed me how to do it, which obviously now was a good decision.”
Although the group is willing to sell almost anything, it must use occasional discretion. For example, the University recently told Campus Easy Sales that assisting students selling textbooks on eBay was competition with the campus bookstore. As a result, customers cannot use the service to sell their old textbooks.
“We have had some weird things in the store,” said Satlin, the chief operating officer. “A few weeks ago, someone brought in a car seat with a heat massager. We actually had someone show interest on eBay and asked us how it works! We also have a generation one iPod, which can be considered a collectors’ item today.”
The team is satisfied with the success of the business so far and expects business to continue to surge.
“We make 15 percent commission, which is very competitive. There also is a $5 listing fee, which also is pretty reasonable compared to other advertising services. But we are still tweaking the price plan,” said Behrens, the company’s chief financial officer.
Ironically, Kaplan, the chief executive officer, is the only business major running Campus Easy Sales. Each member, however, holds a position that uniquely uses his talents and abilities.
“While it’s hard to divide responsibility among the group because we are equal partners, each one of us holds a position that speaks to our individual strengths,” said Pazandak.
From the onset of the school year, the group realized it would have to put forth a lot of time and effort to maintain and improve upon the business’ success.
“Right after we took over the business, we put up a lot of flyers and did a lot of dorm-storming. We are still planning on sending out letters to faculty to encourage them to use our business. They have stuff too,” said Byrne, the head of advertising.
Along with its goal of attracting faculty as customers, the team also has other ideas for the future. Among these plans is encouraging customers to have as much fun with Campus Easy Sales as the owners are having.
“We are thinking more about student outreach – we want them to think we are one of them,” said Satlin.
As freshmen, the owners must rely upon each other to work together and divide their responsibilities. They frequently consult the former owners of Campus Easy Sales, as well. The team emphasized the importance of friendship in running a successful business.
“Since we are all friends, it is a big deal, because we have to spend so much time together and get along,” said Kaplan.
Campus Easy Sales is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 6-8 p.m. Although this adds up to only six hours per week, the team also said it usually spends up to six additional hours outside of office hours.
“We have found that the more time we put in, the more return we see. The more hours we put in outside of office, the better off we are,” said Satlin.
Members of the Campus Easy Sales team encourage aspiring business owners to adopt their cooperative mindset and friendliness. They also emphasize taking advantage of Washington University’s Entrepreneurship Program.
“Be friends and be smart,” said Harrison.ÿ”Now is the time to get into the Student Entrepreneurship Program, which just received additional grant money.”