PROVIDING a nurturing and supportive environment for local entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to thrive - that is the mission of eBay and Martell.
Both are title sponsors for the Rotary-Asme (Association of Small and Medium Enterprises) Entrepreneur of the Year Award (EYA) for eCommerce and Enterprise respectively.
Online trades
This is the second year that eBay is supporting the Rotary-Asme EYA.
Mr Sam McDonagh (main head picture), director of eBay Southeast Asia, says: "We are committed to fostering the entrepreneurial spirit in Singapore.
"eBay is a breeding ground for entrepreneurs. We have 4,000 sellers comprising individuals and SMEs in Singapore who use eBay to earn a primary or secondary source of income."
eBay promotes cross-border trade and provides a global marketplace for entrepreneurs who conduct e-commerce on eBay without incurring huge set-up costs. These are opportunities that are only available online.
Singapore entrepreneur K.K. Wu is a gem collector who started selling gems on eBay as a part-time hobby. He saw a steady demand for his gems from international customers and turned his passion into a full-time business.
Mr Wu is now an eBay Platinum Power-Seller - an eBay seller who maintains at least 98 per cent total positive feedback rating and minimum gross monthly sales of US$25,000 (S$37,113).
He has also set up an office in Thailand with 10 employees and has customers from the United States, Europe and the Middle East. He is thinking of setting up a retail store.
Mr McDonagh says eBay is a perfect platform for entrepreneurs, particularly start-ups.
"We provide many tools on eBay to help entrepreneurs get started on their business," he adds.
"The eBay export centre is where sellers who wish to sell internationally can access seller tools and tips on getting started. We have business-related tools such as customer support e-mail and inventory management. Plus, it only costs $5 a month to start a basic store on eBay."
In return, sellers receive a safe environment to trade and a platform for businesses to showcase their products and services on the Internet, in addition to enabling sales transactions via the online sales channel that eBay provides.
The EYA for eCommerce recognises a top entrepreneur who has shown a compelling strategic approach to the use of Internet platforms in his company. Mr McDonagh says the winner should possess 'motivation and innovation'.
"The entrepreneur must also have the ability to acknowledge the social enterprise of business, take advantage of technology and use it as efficiently as possible," he adds.
Business acumen
Martell is following in the footsteps of its founder Jean Martell - an entrepreneur who shipped the first bottle of Martell to China in 1797 - by supporting and celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit of passion and creativity.
Mr Franck Lapeyre (right), managing director of Pernod Ricard Singapore, the company that owns and represents Martell here, says: "In Singapore, Martell has always been associated with the business world, marking the celebratory moments of success and achievement in a businessman's life. The Martell Cordon Bleu, the official cognac of the Rotary-Asme EYA, is the perfect beverage for that."
Martell, a leader in the cognac market with a long-established presence in Asia, will present the EYA for Enterprise to a top entrepreneur who has proven his ability to create a successful enterprise. The entrepreneur should have qualities such as vision and mission, leadership, teamwork and training, communications and business structure.
"Martell's idea of an enterprising entrepreneur is one who brings creative ideas to the table, is passionate about his ideas, believes in them and does not give up," says Mr Lapeyre.
He adds that Martell's products and its strong branding exemplify its founder's keen sense of business acumen and entrepreneurial undertakings.
Mr Martell was only 20 years old when he left his native island of Jersey and moved to the wine-growing Cognac region, founding the Martell house the following year in 1715.
The company created the Elite Club to bring together connoisseurs of taste, style and distinction to share their experiences. It also lent support to the Singapore Promising Brands award last year.
