Today, eBay and Marie Kondo, the best-selling author of “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” release an exclusive guide that makes de-cluttering an easy and enjoyable experience for parents and children. With inspiring illustrations and never-before-seen tips, the guide features downloadable “KonMari for Kids” flashcards – offering new ways for families to ready their homes and cash in on unused items, just in time for the back to school season.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150827005756/en/

Earn extra money by selling items from the home on eBay and then use that cash to cover the cost of ...

Earn extra money by selling items from the home on eBay and then use that cash to cover the cost of back to school essentials. (Photo: Business Wire)

eBay’s partnership with Ms. Kondo comes at a pivotal point in the year, when many parents want to earn extra money by selling items from their homes and then use that cash to cover the cost of back to school essentials. Ms. Kondo’s latest work applies her famous systematic approach to de-cluttering and distills the information into tailored, timely tips that encourage the entire family to get involved. The guide is available exclusively on the “People Want What You Got” section of eBay’s website at ebay.com/sellitnow, and will serve as an ongoing resource for parents.

“The KonMari Method focuses on determining which items in your life ‘spark joy,’” said Ms. Kondo. “Whether it’s a sweater with the tags still attached or a designer purse hanging in your closet, there is a reason these things aren’t used more often – my recommendation is to get rid of them. Since clothing, handbags and shoes are bestsellers on eBay, you may choose to sell some of the fashion items that aren’t bringing you joy.”

Preparing for Back to School

According to the National Retail Federation, people will spend more than $600 sending children back to school this year – and nearly $900 for a college student – often causing financial strain.1 But, the average household has more than 50 extra or unused items worth over $4,0002 if sold on eBay. For families looking for a simple way to earn extra money to help fund their back to school shopping, selling on eBay has never been easier.

“Marie Kondo’s book has sold more than 3 million copies and motivated countless people around the globe to remove items from their homes that are not being used,” said Vincent Payen, head of Consumer Selling at eBay. “As people embark on their tidying journey, eBay provides a range of options to earn extra money, whether they prefer selling themselves or letting eBay Valets do it for them – it’s a quick and easy way for anyone to sell anything, from designer clothing and handbags to electronics and household items.”

eBay is also a top destination for great deals on an incredible selection of back to school essentials – get up to 60 percent off school supplies and gear, plus free shipping, at ebay.com/rpp/back-to-school.

An Excerpt from “KonMari for Kids”

  • Ready, Set, Go! Back to School season is a perfect time to organize the home for a busy school year ahead. The KonMari Method is to tidy all at once, in the right order. Always start with clothes, then books, followed by documents, then miscellaneous (e.g., kitchen) and finally, sentimental items. Most families tidy room by room, but if you do this, you will spend the rest of your life tidying.
  • First Up…Clothes. Your tidying campaign should start with clothes. With the kids going back to school, this is a great opportunity to make room in their closets. Each person should gather every item of clothing they own, from every corner of the house, and pile them all in their designated spot. Then, it’s time for the ‘joy check.’ Hold each item in your hands and choose the ones that spark joy. Ask yourself, “Would I be happy to see you again next season?” or, “If the weather suddenly changed, would I want to wear you right now?”
  • Make Room for New Gadgets. There aren’t many certainties in life but here’s one: that laptop you loved only a few years ago is already outdated. And, maybe that old calculator and tablet, too. But some people really love that ‘vintage’ stuff. So out with the old and get your fingers ready for the new.
  • Keep or Discard? There are only two choices in the end: do you or do you not keep an item? It’s a personal decision that only you can make. But if an item no longer brings you joy, it might bring someone else joy. There are many options if you decide the item is not quite right for you to keep: you can sell it with eBay Valet – a professional selling service, donate the item to charity, or pass it along to a friend or family member who might benefit from and cherish the item.

To download the full guide with 15 illustrated flashcards, visit ebay.com/sellitnow.

Tidying Consultation with Ms. Kondo

Ms. Kondo’s consulting business in Tokyo helps people transform their cluttered homes into spaces of serenity. She typically has a three-month long waiting list for prospective clients, but one lucky winner will be granted a tidying consultation this fall.

Beginning today through September 2nd, eBay is hosting a sweepstakes for anyone who would like to demonstrate how they’ve employed the KonMari Method at home.

To enter, follow these three simple steps:

  1. Share your #prekonmarikomono and #postkonmarikomono photos as a collage on Instagram
  2. Tag and follow @eBay
  3. Use hashtags #KonMari and #eBaysweeps from August 27 – September 2, 2015

For more information, along with terms and conditions, visit http://bit.ly/1hGrkRn.

Selling on eBay

With a global community of 157 million active buyers, there's always an eBay shopper in search of your clothing, electronics, kitchen appliances and other popular household items.

eBay’s simplified selling experience makes the process easier than ever. A new guidance system takes the guess work out of selling by providing recommendations on how to list and price items. This is available on both eBay.com and eBay’s mobile app.

To sell on eBay:

  1. Visit ebay.com/sell
  2. Describe what you are selling and receive recommendations on how to price your item
  3. Once the item sells, print a shipping label on eBay and ship it!

eBay Valet, a professional selling service brought to you by eBay, offers access to experts who will showcase items in the best light, in front of the largest online shopping audience. eBay Valet will handle everything from estimating the price of products, to taking professional pictures of items, to ensuring the quick and safe shipment of items to buyers, and everything in between.

To sell through eBay Valet:

  1. Visit ebay.com/valet and request a free, prepaid shipping label.
  2. Place the items in any box.
  3. Using the free prepaid shipping label, send the box to a valet.

Once the items have been sent to a valet, customers will receive regular updates via email as their items are received, listed and sold. Customers then receive up to 80 percent of what their items sell for, deposited into their PayPal account. Any unsold items are returned to the customer for free.

To get started, or for more information, visit ebay.com/valet.

About eBay

eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) is the world’s most vibrant marketplace for discovering great value and unique selection. eBay connects millions of buyers and sellers around the globe, empowering people and creating opportunity through Connected Commerce. Our vision for commerce is one that is enabled by people, powered by technology and open to everyone. We partner but never compete with our sellers and create stronger connections between buyers and sellers with product experiences that are fast, mobile and secure. As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, we're just as passionate today about connecting buyers and sellers as when we founded the company in 1995. For more information, visit ebayinc.com.

1According to the National Retail Federation 2015 Back to School Spending Survey

2The survey conducted by Optimsoft Consulting in June 2015 and collected responses from 2,000 U.S. online shoppers.