Wolverhampton Businesses Reach £1M in Sales with eBay UK Retail Revival Program

Just two short months ago local Wolverhampton businesses joined eBay for the first UK Retail Revival training event at the iconic Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton. Today, the 64 businesses participating in the program have reached £1M in sales on eBay, representing a 41% increase in sales for these businesses.

“As a business involved in the eBay Retail Revival program, the program has made a difference to our sales,” says Jamie Morgan, who works for Alliance Blinds. “Just goes to show that ecommerce and physical shops can run hand in hand and be a viable business model.”

The increase in sales and overall success the businesses have experienced bucks many of the woes faced by retailers across the UK in the face of reduced consumer confidence and increased economic uncertainty. The new figures cap off a huge year for eBay’s global Retail Revival scheme, which has seen eBay partnered with the cities of Akron, Ohio (US), Lansing, Michigan (US) and Wolverhampton, UK. Overall the program has seen 220 sellers take part globally, generating over 80,000 transactions to date - with roughly 10% involving cross border sales.

Another business who has benefitted in Wolverhampton is Toolsave, which sells products for home and garden improvements. Founder Fred Evans, whose brother David is also enrolled on the program, said: “Since enrolling on the Retail Revival program, there has been a noticeable buzz around Wolverhampton. I’ve known about eBay for years, and Retail Revival came at exactly the right time for my business. We have a great team at eBay who give us all the support we need and with their help, we think it’s realistic that we could double – or even triple – our turnover next year.”

Rob Hattrell, Vice President of eBay UK, said: “Last year was tough for UK retailers, but our partnership with entrepreneurs in Wolverhampton shows that British brands have a bright future. Small businesses have the creativity and entrepreneurial skill to create products needed and wanted all over the world – and eBay is helping them to sell in the way they want to online.

“I’m really proud to see the progress these businesses have made in reaching the £1 million milestone so quickly. Now is the time to empower them more – and over the course of 2019 we will work with Wolverhampton to do just that. I want the success of the West Midlands to act as a beacon to the retail sector up and down the country.”

eBay will continue providing support and training to Wolverhampton businesses through November 2019.

For more information on Retail Revival and the Wolverhampton program visit ebayinc.com/retailrevival