Staff Spotlight Series: Reilly O'Connor

Name: Reilly | Title: Operations Assistant | Zodiac Sign: Virgo 

What are the biggest changes you’ve seen for Bonanza since you started here?

Well, feature-wise, things have changed tremendously. We've added webstores, the affiliate network, TurboTraffic, shipping labels, direct credit card checkout... the list goes on. Of course, we've also seen tremendous growth at Bonanza over the past two years, in terms of users and items for sale. I would say the most impressive and inspiring change I've seen is how much we've doubled down on improving the quality of our users' interactions with the site. With this growth rate, it would be easy to focus exclusively on upping the numbers. Instead, we're choosing to focus on making the site easier to use, more beautiful to look at, and more perfectly engineered for successful transactions. Combine great features, an emphasis on usability, and a personalized support experience- it's no wonder the community is growing all the time. 

How did your role as a Happiness Producer influence your role as Operations Assistant?

Working as a Happiness Producer granted me access to a depth of knowledge about the functionality of Bonanza, the website. That knowledge informs decisions I encounter now about the functionality of Bonanza, the company. Our values are the same in both cases: we want to build a great space for people to realize their potential. As a Happiness Producer, I was able to help our users develop their entrepreneurial spirit. In my current role, I'm able to help each Bonanza employee fulfill their role in the operations of the company. Both roles contain an element of service to others that I'm grateful to embody. What's more, I believe that experience in customer service can help anyone be better at their job, as well as better in their life. Mark, our Director of Happiness, taught me so much about how to assume the best of other people, and how to treat each person's needs with equal empathy and care. That's a skill set I'll carry into future rules, whatever they may be.

What gets you most excited about Bonanza?

It's so easy to get excited about Bonanza. I love opportunities to tell someone about Bonanza who hasn't heard of it before. It never feels like empty salesmanship, because it's so fun to tell them about all the features (inventory syncing! no listing fees! advertising! webstores!) and hear their reactions of "man, that sounds like a really good place to sell". I often encounter merchants who crave a space in e-commerce that they think doesn't exist- but really, Bonanza fits exactly what they're looking for. Being able to connect those people with our community is one of the most exciting feelings.

What little known #protip would you like to share with Bonanza sellers?

I'm not sure how little-known they are, but we've built up a fabulous collection of Seller Success articles you can check out here. As is my constant refrain when I chat with people about selling on our site, there is more than one way to be successful on Bonanza. There are numerous ways to optimize your listings for better conversion that might not be immediately obvious. Those articles are a great resource to elevate the quality of the Bonanza experience for you and your buyers alike. 

What did you want to be when you grew up?

First, I wanted to be a majorette in a marching band, because I liked their sparkly uniforms. Later, I told everyone I wanted to be a Professional Friend, given my predilection for relationship-building. My job happens to be not far from that second pursuit, though it would be even better if I wore a sparkly uniform.

Where is your favorite place to visit?

My friends and family are mostly scattered on the East Coast, so I try to escape the Seattle grey and enjoy visits with them when I can. That time is sacred.

What was the last book/article you read?

The last book I read was Consider the Lobster, a collection of essays by David Foster Wallace. Brilliant. I read it on a plane and had to resist a strong urge to read most of it aloud to my neighbor. His writing is too good not to share.

Today's scavenger hunt item is: something nobody would want 8 of. Once you find something on Bonanza that fits this criteria, share it on Bonanza's Facebook page. The guidelines to participate in the Facebook contest are as follows:

• Users may participate in all 8 days of scavenger hunts, but you only NEED to participate once to be eligible for the contest.
• Users may post a maximum of twice per day.
• Users must post an item from Bonanza.
• Users may post their own item if relevant to the day's theme.

The winner(s) will be selected at the end of the week, with responses from all 8 days considered. The winner(s) will receive our Great 8 Prize Package. This package includes:

• 1 TurboTraffic Package
• 1 month of Background Burner Personal
• A booth consultation
• Item(s) from your booth featured in a homepage HPL
• A Custom Badge for profile
• An Item feature on Facebook / Twitter
• A Bonanza T-shirt
• A Bonanza Sticker variety pack

Be sure to check back here to find out each day's theme. Happy Hunting!

We want to say thank you for being loyal users of Bonanza. Without your feedback and input, we wouldn't be able to build a site that sellers recommend over Amazon, Etsy, and eBay. This week, we are featuring huge discounts from Bonanza sellers on the homepage. Discounts start at 20%. Don't miss out - check out the homepage for hand-picked lists that feature great deals throughout the anniversary promotion.

Here are some handy lists with discounts you won't believe.

We’ll also be offering a steep discount on annual memberships during our anniversary celebration. Enjoy an additional 25% off when you sign up for a new annual membership, upgrade from a monthly membership to an annual membership, or upgrade your current annual membership to a higher annual membership level. Don’t miss this opportunity for huge savings on membership-only features that will benefit your store long-term! 

Sign up now and save.