When the beautiful people list their favorite shops, eBay might not be on the tip of their tongues, but eBay hopes to change that. On Wednesday, eBay is unveiling The Inside Source, an online magazine about fashion trends, written and edited by glossy magazine writers and pitching the trendiest items for sale on eBay. The new site is for the shopper “who is sophisticated, has a sensibility about fashion and lifestyle and may be familiar with eBay but maybe not the full extent of everything it has to offer,” said Meredith Barnett, the site’s editorial director. For example, clothes and furniture that are “flea market chic,” as Ms. Barnett describes it, are popular right now, but people may not think of eBay as the place to find them. EBay has almost 200 million items for sale on any given day and sells much more than out-of-date clothes and used digital cameras, but the company is worried that many people, especially trendy types, don’t realize that. People still think of eBay as an auction site, even though more than half of its goods are now sold at fixed prices, Mr. Marks said.
They also think of it as a site just for used goods, even though it sells a lot of new, overstock and upscale merchandise. EBay gets a huge amount of data from watching what its 88 million users search for and buy, Ms. Barnett said, and the magazine is a way to highlight those trends. It is also a way to take fashion and pop culture trends and feature related items on eBay. EBay’s marketplace has been struggling for the past few years. Though the total of all transactions increased 7 percent last quarter, that metric had been declining. The new Web site is part of eBay’s effort to “re-engage consumers and shift perceptions of eBay,” said Alan Marks, eBay’s senior vice president of corporate communications. Ms. Barnett is a former editor at Lucky, the shopping magazine, and co-founded a company called Store Adore, an online guide to boutique shopping. She has hired writers for W, InStyle and the New Yorker as freelancers. For one story, a writer interviewed the actress Eva Longoria’s stylist about Ms. Longoria’s fashion choices.
The article links to a few pieces of clothing inspired by Ms. Longoria’s taste and for sale on eBay, like a strapless silver Betsey Johnson dress for $59.99. For another, a writer interviewed an expert antique collector, Judith Miller, who picked out a selection of chairs for sale on eBay, like a vintage Eames chair for $500. There are also interviews with eBay sellers about the trends they see. “The merchandise is certainly there, but for somebody who isn’t an eBay addict or fanatic, sometimes you don’t know where to begin,” Ms. Barnett said. The job of The Inside Source is to curate the site for a certain shopper who is interested in the latest trends, she said. The site is focusing on fashion in part because clothes, shoes and accessories are eBay’s biggest category, Mr. Marks said. It also includes home and garden and technology stories. The Inside Source is a marketing effort, and funding for the site is coming out of eBay’s public relations budget, but it could become a revenue generator down the road, he said.
Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman Click on image to zoom Designers: Charles and Ray EamesThe lounge chair and ottoman have their origin in Charles and Ray’s investigations into molding plywood and a desire to improve upon a familiar fixture in many living rooms: the lounge chair. Citing the English club chair as inspiration, Charles said he sought to design a modern version of that chair, one that had “the warm receptive look of a well-used first baseman's mitt.” Almost immediately, the design became an icon of American design. Today, these pieces not only live in museums, but continue to offer comfort and style to interiors around the world. A universally recognized form, the set is available in a variety of veneers, multiple leather options, and two sizes. Whatever selection you make, you can be assured of the quality and authenticity of this design. Configure Your Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman Add to Wish List Own a True Icon of Modern Design When the set was introduced in 1956, there was nothing like it, and there is still nothing to equal it.
The Eameses' modern take on a 19th century club chair has not only endured for more than 50 years, it has become one of the most significant furniture designs of the 20th century—instantly recognizable and enduringly fresh. Like all classics, the chair and ottoman get better with age, in part because of how they are made. From the innovative hardware that fastens the cushions to the shells without marring the appearance of the wood to the fact that each piece continues to be assembled by hand, the combination of craft and manufacturing consistency results in pieces that are genuinely authentic. "A special refuge from the strains of modern living." The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman has become so recognizable that its configuration is now a registered trademark. That form and the materials used to create it are an integral part of the experience the set delivers. Today, the chair and ottoman are available in a variety of veneers, multiple leather options, and two sizes.
The same high level of quality and workmanship is guaranteed, regardless of the selection you make. Choose contract-grade or our MCL Leather, which possesses a striking balance among softness, durability, and color-fastness. MCL Leather is a premium, semi-aniline, dyed leather with 100 percent natural full grain. Color variations and surface marks are an inherent characteristic of this material, which will acquire wrinkles and creases and develop a rich patina over time. An oiled finish is available for walnut and santos palisander veneers. It closely matches the look and feel of the finish used on the original rosewood chair, and will need to be maintained with periodic hand oiling. You can also choose the standard, high-performance lacquered plywood shell in wood veneer. The lacquered finish requires nothing more than dusting. Luxurious Comfort and Support The comfort and support built into the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman help explain their enduring popularity.
A dynamic blend of hand-craftsmanship and mass production techniques makes this possible. The cushions will not flatten or clump over time. As Charles Eames described them, "The leather cushions do have built-in wrinkles to start with, but that is a clue that spells comfort to come, like the warm, receptive look of a well-used first baseman's mitt." Each hide used for the cushions possesses variations that are a natural occurrence in leather, and each will age to reveal its own unique personality. The seat is permanently tilted to take the weight off your lower spine and distribute it properly to the back of the chair. The lower cushion piece supports your lower back, so you feel relaxed. The angle supports your chest so that you can be comfortable as you read, watch a movie, or have a conversation. A Place of Rest The ottoman also provides a health benefit. Most of us sit or stand all day, so blood collects in the lower extremities. Resting your feet on the ottoman helps restore normal blood circulation.