Online marketplace eBay has announced a ‘Retail Revival’ partnership with the city of Wolverhampton to tackle the decline of high street retail. This initiative is set to last 12 months and aims to assist small retailers in establishing an online presence, fostering economic growth, and demonstrating the feasibility of a synergy between online and high street retail.
Experts from the online marketplace will be stationed in Wolverhampton to offer exclusive support to small retailers looking to either start or expand their online presence. According to research commissioned by eBay and conducted by YouGov and Development Economics, a quarter of small retailers currently lack an online platform for sales, including websites, social media channels, or presence on online marketplaces. Alarmingly, nearly a quarter of these businesses have no intentions of bridging this ‘digital gap’ in the future.
The research indicates that closing this ‘digital gap’ could potentially yield an additional £4.1 billion in annual sales revenue, equivalent to £19,250 per individual business presently without an online presence. To facilitate this, the partnership will provide onboarding assistance to local retailers in Wolverhampton, including personalised support to set up an eBay shop encompassing their full inventory. Retail Revival sellers will undergo a comprehensive training programme that covers the basics of eBay selling, strategies for optimising the platform, and crucial digital skills such as SEO, online advertising, and social media marketing.
Additionally, the partnership aims to create a scalable blueprint that can be adopted by other towns across the United Kingdom to enhance their retail businesses. The progress and impact of the initiative will be evaluated by research consultancy Development Economics. Rob Hattrell, Vice President of eBay in the UK, stated, ‘We know that customer shopping behaviour is changing – but online should play an important part in helping businesses in our local communities to thrive.’ He added that Wolverhampton businesses possess the creativity and entrepreneurial skills needed to create products that are in demand globally, and this initiative will support their online sales efforts. ‘We should be very proud of the incredible strength of the small businesses of the UK and must seek to empower them more,’ he concluded.
One local business, Almaskiya, has already experienced the benefits of selling online. Founded by Mohammed Agha to support his family after arriving from Syria in 2013, Almaskiya sells various products such as kitchenware, homeware, and traditional Islamic items. Agha has used eBay to support others fleeing conflict and has trained nearly 90 individuals on how to create accounts, conduct research, price items, and sell on the platform. Reflecting on his experience, he said, ‘eBay has given me fantastic opportunities and allowed me to start a successful business with ease. It’s helped me create a better life for me, my family and has helped me teach others in a similar situation. It’s great to see the project coming to Wolverhampton where I hope other entrepreneurs will have the same experience.’
The ‘Retail Revival’ partnership aims to revitalise small retailers in Wolverhampton by providing them with the necessary tools and expertise to establish a successful online presence. This initiative holds the potential for significant economic benefits and serves as a model that can be replicated in other towns across the UK.