The most popular product categories for new lockdown start-ups include fashion, cycling, fitness, DIY and skincare, reports UK marketplace.
New data from eBay UK shows that June saw the biggest year on year spike in new businesses joining the platform – up 335% – as the trend of setting up a lockdown start-up became more mainstream.
The number of new start-ups joining eBay UK grew consistently each month during lockdown, with the number of new businesses joining the platform in June almost 40% greater than in April when the impact of lockdown was first felt.
Despite the recent easing of lockdown in the UK, the data highlights a new trend – the rise of the lockdown start-up – with many Brits using the increase in downtime and being furloughed from their usual employment to create new business ventures or to turn their side hustles into full-time jobs.
Over the course of lockdown, eBay UK experienced a 256% rise in the number of new eBay start-ups compared with the same period last year.
The data also uncovers the areas across the UK which have seen the most eBay businesses created, with seven out of ten of the locations in London:
- City of London and Westminster (3,346 new businesses)
- Islington South (1,002)
- Central Manchester (949)
- Holborn and St Pancras (929)
- South Aberdeen (893)
- Poplar and Limehouse (847)
- Ladywood, Birmingham (638)
- Bethnal Green and Bow (635)
- Bermondsey and Old Southwark (619)
- Vauxhall (580)
“The boom in new businesses joining eBay in lockdown proves that when faced with a crisis, Brits see opportunity,” said Rob Hattrell, vp of eBay UK. “The UK is a nation of entrepreneurs and this data shows that a global pandemic hasn’t dampened that spirit, but instead has spawned the rise of ‘the lockdown start-up’.
“I’m thrilled to see so many small businesses, start-ups and even side-hustlers take to eBay to sell, grow and even export internationally during this challenging time.”
The most popular product categories for new lockdown start-ups reflected overall consumer spending trends during the period, including a rise the number of Brits cycling, getting in shape and taking on home DIY projects, as well as recreating spa and salon experiences from home.
- Men’s clothing
- Women’s clothing
- Speciality fashion
- Cycling
- Cars and parts
- Mobile phone accessories
- Fitness, running and yoga
- Swimming pools and hot tubs
- DIY materials
- Facial skin care
The data comes as eBay UK announces the launch of its fourth annual nationwide eBay for Business Awards. The competition aims to find and celebrate the most successful, innovative, and inspiring entrepreneurs from the platform’s 300,000-strong community of small businesses.
Ten winners will be selected, and entrants will have the opportunity to win up to £20,000.
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