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We have our fingers on the pulse of global retail

MARKETPLACE FOCUS: EBAY

21 April 2016

ABOUT EBAY

Founded back in 1995, eBay is one of the world’s leading online marketplaces. Having started as an online auction platform for used goods, today, 79% of the products sold on eBay are new and 84% of the items are sold at fixed prices.

Currently, eBay has more than 159 million active buyers worldwide and over 291m downloads of its mobile app. All international eBay sites give retailers access to more than 100 million unique visitors worldwide, while the platform’s global sales exceed $20bn.

THE GLOBAL ECOMMERCE OPPORTUNITY

In the beginning of 2016, the growth of global ecommerce is not showing any signs of slowing down, as connected consumers become more and more confident in purchasing online.

No wonder, then, that by the end of the year, global ecommerce is expected to reach $1.16tn, with further grow predicted to surpass $1.5tn by 2018.

With retail sales on mobile devices set to reach $415bn by the end of 2016, and experts suggesting that nearly half of all ecommerce will take place on mobile by 2018, shopping via smartphones and tablets will increasingly shape the global online landscape throughout the year, opening up new opportunities for online retailers.

Cross-border trade is another trend that is rapidly gaining popularity among online shoppers worldwide, with 63% of frequent cross-border buyers shopping internationally at least once a month. So, it is no surprise that the volume of international online sales is expected to reach as much as $1tn by 2020.

WHAT DOES EBAY’S OFFERING INCLUDE?

Present in more than 30 markets, across five continents, and heavily investing in its mobile strategy, eBay is very well-positioned to serve the needs of online shoppers around the globe.

At any point of time, eBay offers over 800m listings globally and more than 57% of all sales on the platform cross international borders, which turns the marketplace into a lucrative selling channel for international retailers operating across a variety of product verticals.

To further support the global expansion of its merchants, eBay provides them with shipping services, secure payment system, customer support, localisation support and opportunity to participate in international deals programmes.

So, whether you decide to engage in a passive cross-border trade on eBay, using international shipping, or you prefer to list your products directly on eBay’s international sites, the marketplace allows you to expand, test and learn new markets at low risk and high speed.

HOW TO GET STARTED ON EBAY?

You can of course sign up as a seller directly on eBay, however, you will need to invest time and resources to understand the specifics of each local market you sell into via eBay.

Alternatively, as leading experts in global online marketplaces, Pentagon can accelerate your international growth by setting up and managing your store directly on eBay.

We will provide a technical advisor to manage the integration between your brand and eBay, an account manger to oversee the day-to-day running of your branded store, optimise product titles and boost sales through platform deals, a translations service to align all product descriptions and titles with local language nuances, and customer services support to ensure the expectations of local shoppers are met.

Talk to a member of our team today to find out how we can increase your international sales! Email: hello@pentagon-interactive.co.uk, call: +44 (0)20 8940 5392 or visit us at:wearepentagon.com.

Let us develop a tailored solution for your business that will help you reach new international customers and grow your global sales.

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