A BUSINESSMAN has become a millionaire by selling second-hand music equipment on eBay.

Jeremy Wicks, who has also beaten cancer, has joined the exclusive eBay Millionaires’ Club, for businesses which turn over a seven-figure sum on the site.

The 37-year-old started his life in business as a teenage dad.

At the age of 18, he ran Audio Visual, in Butt Road, Colchester, living at the back of the shop.

He sold new and second-hand hi-fi and television equipment, and offered repairs.

Then he moved to a larger shop at Hythe Quay by 2000 and focused on music equipment, starting getinthemix.co.uk He said: “Over the years, the margins got smaller and smaller, so I decided to go into DJ equipment, projectors and other equipment markets.”

Mr Wicks continued to run his business and then launched WhyBuyNew in 2003, using mail orders, before setting up on eBay in 2007.

Now the married father-of-four runs WhyBuyNew from a warehouse at Easter Park, off Axial Way, Colchester, and employs 22 people.

The company specialises in selling B-grade DJ and audio equipment.

He said: “I thought people looking for second-hand goods would stumble on us and pay a little more to get a year’s guarantee and free delivery.

“But it built up very quickly and the past three years have been absolutely massive.”

The company specialises in pre-owned, repackaged and ex-display electrical equipment.

It sends out 500 products a day and has a turnover of about £6.5million, which is a long way from its humble roots.

Mr Wicks, who has a personal fortune of more than £1million, said: “I would say the biggest stumbling block has been dealing with staff. That was a big learning curve. But to me, everything is still really exciting and I love what I do.”

He is hoping to double turnover in four years and expand into other markets.

His plans were put on hold by cancer and a kidney transplant last year, but now be is better and ready to continue building his business.

He said: “Now I am pretty much back on track. It has been a lot of hard work, but the secret of the success is I am obsessed with giving the experience of new.”

Mr Wicks is one of the growing number of people earning millions from the internet auction site. A total of 127 people have broken through the £1million mark in 2010, with UK shoppers spending billions online every year.