This is the story of Western Bid told in the first person by the company’s founder, Michael Birman.
Foundation in Minnesota
In November 2001, Western Bid, Inc. was founded in Minnesota, USA. We started by selling products from Ukrainian suppliers on eBay and Yahoo Auctions.
The Supplier Network Grows
Within a year, the number of suppliers providing us with goods grew from 10 to 100.
Europe and the First Online System
We opened an office in Germany and expanded our e-commerce operations to Europe, not only the USA. That same year we built our first online system, which allowed suppliers to submit their goods to us for sale on marketplaces.
Opening the Way to Etsy
We saw the potential of Ukrainian artisans and, among the first in Ukraine, opened the way to Etsy.
Expansion and Logistics Breakthrough
The launch of the Western Bid Academy laid the foundation for thousands of new exporters. In 2019, we officially entered Kyiv, joining forces with logistics giants: UPS, FedEx, and DPD.
Western Bid in Every City
Despite pandemic challenges, we opened 19 offices across the country and launched a Fulfillment center, enabling our suppliers to store goods in warehouses in the USA and Europe for instant delivery.
More Than a Service — A Community
Western Bid is a Sellers Club, an EBA membership, and daily support for Ukrainian entrepreneurs worldwide.
Flagship of Ukrainian E-commerce
Western Bid has built a large community of suppliers, sells their goods and ships them to more than 100 countries worldwide. The company is a flagship of e-commerce in Ukraine, has been recognized by Etsy as a fulfillment center provider and holds a preferred partnership with Nova Poshta.
Awards and Honors
Recognition of our achievements by the professional community and government ratings.
Winner of Ukrainian Business Award
Western Bid scored 69.9 out of 100, becoming the best in the auxiliary activity category in the transportation sector (NACE 52.29).
Industry Leader 2022
Honorary title based on the national business rating for significant contribution to Ukraine's economic development.