eBay extends free listings offer for new small businesses

eBay has extended its offer of a "free online shop window" for new businesses joining the platform for a further two months.

The extension attempts to “offer a lifeline” for retailers and brands that need to sell on excess stock, as a result of the coronavirus.

The offer, which was originally launched on 26 March, will apply to up to 250 product listings each month for each business – and is expected to help 99% of every new DTC seller listing on the marketplace website.

Since the offer was launched, eBay has welcomed thousands of new businesses and the number of daily seller registrations on the site has doubled.

New daily registrations have also increased 175% since the beginning of the year. Of the thousands of sellers that have joined eBay during lockdown, 23.6% were London-based, 13.3% in the South East and 13.2% in the North West.

eBay has also committed to "maintaining seller standards" for the next three months. The seller standards help ensure the reputation, standing and profile of individual sellers cannot be damaged by events out of their control.

Murray Lambell, VP Trading, eBay UK, said: "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.”