More than €1 million worth of sales has been generated by a group of small to medium sized Irish businesses taking part in an eBay pilot programme that was launched earlier this year.

eBay’s Retail Expansion Programme was developed to support Irish businesses reach new audiences around the world through its online marketplace. It was rolled out in partnership with Enterprise Ireland, the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland and We are Dublin Town. 

The Programme was launched in March 2019 with more than 50 businesses joining at that time. The milestone figure was reached after just four months by SMEs across multiple industries such as health and beauty, fashion, homeware, sport and music.

With many of those on the pilot programme reporting an uplift in overall sales of between five and 20%, one company in Monaghan reported a 50% increase in sales of its musical instruments and accessories. 

Such has been the success of the programme that one item has been sold on eBay every six minutes by businesses taking part in the scheme.  More than half (54%) had never exported prior to joining and eBay today confirmed that the largest export markets for those on the Retail Expansion Programme are now the UK, US and Germany.  

Speaking this week, Ebay Ireland’s site lead, Hazel Mitchell said, "The Retail Expansion Programme has given Irish businesses the chance to reach a whole new customer base not just in Ireland, but globally, and we are gearing up to grow and expand the scheme so that more SMEs can benefit.” 

Source: www.businessworld.ie