Despite some easing of lockdown rules, new businesses registering on ebay.co.uk will continue to pay zero fees to list or sell until 31 July 2020. This represents a two-month extension to the previous deadline of 31 May.
The offer, which was originally launched on 26 March, will apply to 250 product listings each month. Estimates are that it will help 99% of every new business-to-consumer seller listing on the site.
The move comes as small retailers continue to struggle with the financial impact of lockdown restrictions and look to keep business moving by selling online.
The additional support from eBay will offer a boost to key parts of the SME economy.
The offer provides self-employed retailers and entrepreneurs who previously relied on bricks and mortar stores with a virtual shop window. This means that they can reach eBay UK’s 27 million customers without paying any fees until August.
Commenting is Murray Lambell, VP Trading, eBay UK. “We recognise that the challenges are vast and wide-ranging for SMEs on Britain’s high streets. But now more than ever, having an online revenue stream alongside a brick and mortar store represents a vital lifeline, and offers the best chance of ensuring businesses survive.
“These things do not have to work in competition and eBay offers that online shop window that so many small high street shop owners need right now. Even when businesses reopen, social distancing may still impact their offline revenues. So, having a free online channel could really help, especially if they have excess stock to shift.”
Since launching the offer, eBay UK has welcomed thousands of new businesses, with the number of daily seller registrations doubling.
Mark Buschhaus, company director at Toy Barnhaus, is currently utilising eBay’s offer whilst his bricks and mortar shops are closed. “After months of contemplating whether or not to bring our business online, Toy Barnhaus finally went live on eBay this March. We accelerated the move due to the pandemic and went live just as lockdown was announced.
“We had previously run eight bricks and mortar stores only. Online was totally new territory, but it was the lifeline we needed for our business due to the lockdown. I’ve been astounded at just how easy the process of setting up our store on eBay was. I initially anticipated to be sending 10 to 20 parcels per week. However, on the first weekend we had to ship over 150 parcels.
“We have 80 staff currently furloughed on full pay. It’s me and my business partner online, working out of the back of our Crawley store. We have managed to keep our business afloat through our eBay sales. We are already thinking about how we can integrate this new sales channel into our core business plan when our stores are able to reopen.”
