Copyright Fast Company
When Ken Gaitano first started reselling sneakers, it wasn’t with a five-year business plan in hand. It was about street culture, design, and the thrill of the hunt. A Filipino immigrant with a degree in business administration and a passion for entrepreneurship, Ken moved to the U.S. in 2013 and began selling shoes part-time. What started as a side hustle quickly became the Hustle Bee. Today, Ken has sold more than 25,000 items, built a community of 3,400+ eBay followers, and maintained outstanding customer feedback. THE CHALLENGE OF GROWTH But growth can come with friction. For small online sellers, cash flow is often the biggest roadblock—juggling inventory costs, marketing investments, and day-to-day expenses, especially when sales ebb and flow with the seasons. Traditional banks weren’t built to address this reality: Approval is slow, terms are rigid, and requirements aren’t designed with small online sellers in mind. According to a recent Goldman Sachs survey, 81% of small-business owners who applied for a business loan or line of credit within the last year found it difficult to access affordable capital, causing 49% to halt expansions and 41% to limit their capacity to take on new business. Ken found himself in a similar situation, and he faced a dilemma: Pass on bulk inventory deals because of limited cash on hand, or stretch his resources thin to seize opportunities. Either way, he risked losing momentum in a market where speed and timing are critical. SELLER CAPITAL AS A TURNING POINT Enter eBay Seller Capital. Designed specifically for eBay sellers, it offers access to business cash advances in as little as 24 hours and flexible payments tied directly to daily sales. For Ken, this was the turning point. “I needed quick, flexible funding with automatic payments,” he recalls. “I applied on my mobile phone in a few minutes and was approved for a $62,000 cash advance. I can draw funds as needed—making it easier to jump on large inventory deals when opportunities arise.” Instead of waiting weeks for a loan approval or stressing over fixed monthly payments, Ken could act immediately. He used $26,000 of the cash advance at the start of 2025 to reinvest in inventory, boosted his marketing and eBay ads, and seized opportunities that might have otherwise slipped by. Following the funding, the Hustle Bee experienced a significant surge in sales and, by July 2025, had already matched its total revenue from the previous year. In a crowded market where timing is everything, eBay Seller Capital gave him the agility to scale his business without hesitation. CONFIDENCE TO THINK BIGGER “Knowing I could access funds quickly gave me confidence to take bigger steps,” Ken says. “It’s not just about the funding—it’s about the freedom to keep building the business you believe in.” That confidence pushed Ken beyond buying and selling sneakers. He began exploring new categories, testing different marketing campaigns, and reinvesting profits into improving his operations—from faster shipping to more sophisticated listing strategies. advertisement The ripple effects were clear: higher inventory turnover, more repeat customers, and a stronger brand identity on eBay. BUILDING A COMMUNITY ALONG THE WAY Ken’s success is visible in the numbers, but it’s also reflected in his community. Beyond eBay, he shares insights with fellow sellers through Instagram (@thehustlebee) and his podcast The Seller Club, spotlighting the challenges and innovations shaping the marketplace. For new sellers, Ken’s journey is both relatable and motivating. He candidly shares the challenges of running lean, navigating intense competition, and making calculated risks—offering real-world lessons that resonate with entrepreneurs at every stage. His openness has made him a trusted resource for others striving to turn passion into profit. Ken’s experience continues to inspire sellers to grow and scale their businesses. eBay Seller Capital has already delivered over $100 million in working capital to more than 10,000 sellers in 2025—clear proof that the right tools can help small businesses thrive. A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE Ken’s journey is proof of a larger shift: Small-business owners are no longer waiting for traditional financing. They’re finding smarter, faster tools that let them set their own pace. For Ken, that meant turning a love of sneakers into a scalable enterprise. The result: His business grew by 115% in six months. Looking ahead, Ken is focused on expanding his brand presence, investing in emerging sneaker markets, and creating educational content for the seller community. Ken sums it up simply: “I’ve always been active on eBay, but this program made me feel eBay genuinely supported the success of my business. It’s more than financing—it’s a partnership that helps me grow and grows with me.” For more information about the eBay Seller Capital program, go here: https://pages.ebay.com/ebaysellercapital/
