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Ecommerce services provider AuctionBlox names veteran exec John Crites as CEO

John Crites

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John Crites, a former senior executive at RTI International and MCNC, is the new chief executive officer at AuctionBlox.com.

The Raleigh-based firm provides a variety of online and e-commerce services to a growing global customer base.

In addition to his role at AuctionBlox, Crites plans to remain head of the new executives organization called Triangle Technology Executives Council, or TTEC.

“AuctionBlox has a solid product that can be delivered at a highly competitive price,” Crites told Local Tech Wire. “It’s a great opportunity to join the company at this stage of it’s growth.”

Anthony Musselwhite, the founder of AuctionBlox, said he was “fortunate” to have Crites as the firm’s new CEO.

“He’s a proven leader in the IT community and his insights into the technology and operations of our business are a great match,” Musselwhite said.

AuctionBlox says it offers clients a “hassle-free online store” and enables users to “easily advertise your products on eBay, Google and your own online store all from a centralized dashboard.” The company’s main office is located in Raleigh. It also has an operation in Australia.

In the near future at AuctionBlox, Crites has plans to raise additional funding and increase headcount.

In a Q&A with LTW, Crites discussed the opportunity he sees in his new position.

What excites you most about AuctionBlox?

The potential for growth. The company’s strategy for delivering quality services and allowing our customers to retain more of their earnings is a winning combination.

What are some of the immediate obstacles you need to address to reshape the company in your image as all CEOs do?

I don’t foresee and immediate obstacles to our success in growing the company. AuctionBlox is already serving customers in seven countries and has the ability to expand. My priority at this time is to ensure we sustain the highest levels of customer service as we expand our customer base.

Will you be seeking new funding?

Yes, on a limited basis. The company is already cash flow positive and can actually sustain growth without funding. Our preference is to expedite the growth curve for AuctionBlox with limited investments.

How many employees does the company have? Will you be hiring, and if so what positions?

I’ve been very impressed with the cost effective measures taken by the company to date using (software as a service) and development resources. We have recently hired a customer support and administrative staff and will be pursuing additional product development staff. Australia is one of our growing markets and we would also like to eventually have additional support in those time zones.

In this tough economy, even eBay has suffered but other e-commerce players are faring well, such as Amazon. Locally, ChannelAdvisor recently went through some cutbacks. How are tough times affecting AuctionBlox and how do you propose to deal with those challenges?

AuctionBlox provides services at a highly competitive price. We’re confident that this tough economy will motivate customers to find the most cost efficient service for marketing their products. That’s our space and we’re gearing-up to accept the new business.

How does AuctionBlox differ from ChannelAdvisor, eBay and other auction-related services?

AuctionBlox is a partner with our customers in selling their products through eBay, Amazon, Google (and others). The continued strength of these services contributes to the strength of AuctionBlox. We will continue to differentiate ourselves by offering our customers with a diverse selection of services at exceedingly competitive pricing.

Will you continue in your role at TTEC?

Yes. The Triangle Technology Executives Council is an excellent opportunity to collaborate with the collective expertise in the region. The organization has grown from 25 to 180 IT Executive members in a little over a year. We’ve reached a critical mass with our membership where other volunteers can supplement the challenges there. AuctionBlox will benefit from the collaboration with this community.

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