Entrepreneur and ProStores Announce Contest to Develop Six Online Businesses eBusiness Boost offers expert business consultation and a free online storefront with ProStores

LOS ANGELES, CALIF., March 2006 — Entrepreneur magazine and ProStores, an eBay company, seek six small businesses to experience a business transformation that will streamline operations and expand their revenues and profits.

The transformation is part of an eBusiness Boost Challenge designed to help entrepreneurs who aspire to sell on the Internet, or businesses that currently have a Web site and need help increasing online sales. Winners will learn how to build, maintain and manage an online store, including how to drive customers to their site, accept online payments and efficiently manage inventory and fulfill online orders.

The eBusiness Boost Challenge is soliciting qualified small business merchants to enter the contest from March 1–April 21, 2006. Each of six winners will receive full ProStores Design Services and up to 20 hours of Store Design Update service to assist in the set up of a ProStores Business Store, a one-year subscription to ProStores Business Store (a $29.95/monthly value) and up to fifty hours of ProStores consultation services during that one year period. eBusiness Boost Challenge winners may also receive media coverage in Entrepreneur magazine, as well as promotion on the ProStores.com site. Complete official contest rules, eligibility requirements and entry form can be found at www.prostores.com/ebusinessboost.
“Online commerce is a growth market for entrepreneurs and those who have invested in their e-commerce strategy will reap the rewards,” said Entrepreneur’s senior vice-president and editorial director, Rieva Lesonsky. “This is a chance for those on the edge of something big to get professional advice on how to reach new markets through e-commerce.”
Over a five-month period, winners’ businesses will be evaluated and opportunities explored by a team of professionals who will oversee their complete transformation through personal business consulting, a robust suite of e-commerce solutions, sales and marketing recommendations and more.
To enter, eligible applicants must fill out a 250-word essay on why they need assistance in creating, or improving their business and e-commerce sales channel and online storefront. They will be asked to share their current challenges, future vision, ultimate business goal and describe how the experience to receive professional consultation and business strategies and tools would help them achieve their business goals.
The businesses will be evaluated on criteria including:
• Business challenge/obstacles (30%)
• Clarity of business objectives and goals (40%)
• Dedication/passion for your business (30%)
Winners will be announced at eBay Live!, eBay’s annual community user conference held June 13-15, 2006, at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Convention Center in Las Vegas. eBay Live! brings together more than 10,000 community members from around the world for networking and educational opportunities to improve buying and selling skills of eBay users at all levels.
“Many entrepreneurs start a business around something they love,” said Chris Tsakalakis, Sr. Director of Advanced Solutions for eBay. “Many may not realize the potential that online commerce immediately provides. With this challenge, we’re bringing together experts to focus on their core strengths while expanding new business opportunities.”

About Entrepreneur Media Inc.
Entrepreneur Media Inc. is an organization of people dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs worldwide to start and grow successful companies. To provide entrepreneurs with the relevant information they need to make informed decisions, Entrepreneur Media Inc. offers a full range of products and services. Products include: Magazines - Entrepreneur, Entrepreneur's Startups, Entrepreneur Mexico, Entrepreneur Philippines, Entrepreneur Hungary and Entrepreneur Russia; Websites - Entrepreneur.com, SoyEntrepreneur.com, Smallbizsearch.com, EntrepreneurPress.com, Smallbizbooks.com, and Freebks.com; Book Publishing - Entrepreneur Press, Entrepreneur's eBooks and Business Startup Guides; Also - Conferences and Custom Publishing.

About ProStores
ProStores, an eBay Company, allows small- and medium-sized businesses to create a professional online store, customized with their own branding and domain name. ProStores became an eBay company in November 2004, followed by eBay’s acquisition of Kurant’s StoreSense technology in January 2005. For more information about ProStores visit www.prostores.com.

About eBay Inc.
Founded in 1995, eBay pioneers communities built on commerce, sustained by trust, and inspired by opportunity. eBay enables ecommerce on a local, national and international basis with an array of websites – including the eBay Marketplace, PayPal, Kijiji, Rent.com and Shopping.com – that bring together millions of buyers and sellers every day.

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