ONLINE MARKETPLACE SELLING BOOMS WITH 45% SELLING IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, AS ALMOST HALF SAY IT’LL HELP WITH THE COST OF CHRISTMAS

The research comes as Post Office announces new in-branch services with DPD and Evri, offering more opportunity, choice and convenience for sellers

• Almost half (45 percent) take up online marketplace selling to manage Christmas costs
• One in four (28 percent) want to start online selling but have no idea where to start, as Post Office and financial expert share top tips
  
• 49 percent say hybrid working has made it far easier to sell on online marketplaces
• 74 percent hoard items that rarely see the light of day, but there is value amongst the clutter

More people than ever are turning to marketplace selling with nearly half selling an item online in the past 12 months, with new research commissioned by Post Office estimating £5.9 billion was pocketed by online marketplace sellers in this period.

More than a quarter (28 percent) say they have sold more items in the previous 12 months than they had done before – many doing so for the first time.

Gen Z and millennials (18-42 years) are the biggest online marketplace sellers (65 percent). Yet, there is a rise in ‘silver sellers’ (55 years+), with over a quarter (27 percent) selling an item online this year – and one in 12 (eight percent) doing so for the first time.

It comes as 49 percent say online marketplace selling helps pay increased winter living expenses – with nearly half (45 percent) saying they will do so purely to help with the cost of Christmas. Whilst others opt to put the extra income aside to cover unplanned expenses (22 percent), deposit into saving accounts (22 percent), going on holiday (19 percent) and pursuing passion projects (18 percent).

It also emerged that half (47 percent) sold items because of big life transitions. For example, children growing out of clothes, maternity wear no longer worn, parting with one-off wedding outfits, moving house and the passing of a loved one.

The survey went on to find that hybrid working is a major catalyst behind the recent marketplace selling boom – with half (49 percent) saying that it has made it far easier.

Sellers report greater flexibility to drop off items at delivery points when it suits (41 percent), using previous commuting time effectively (32 percent), having more time to respond to buyers (29 percent), feeling less tired (28 percent) and having the time to make items to then sell online (24 percent).

Despite hybrid working inspiring a boom in marketplace selling, 55 percent say they would not tell their boss if they were doing so – even when 45 percent say it is difficult to keep up online selling alongside their day job. However, bosses may be getting a good deal – with those who sell online acquiring a host of useful skills that can benefit the workplace.

Employees who sell online say they are now better at marketing products (43 percent), more competent managing money (35 percent), able to provide improved customer service (32 percent) and can manage difficult situations more effectively (32 percent).

The new study comes as Post Office, for the first time in its 360-year history, enables customers to be able to choose other parcel carriers over the counter in Post Office branches, as well as Royal Mail Group – as it announces DPD and Evri as new in-branch carriers. This builds on the success of ‘Parcels Online’ which launched earlier in the year to bring more choice to customers buying postage online.

The move has been praised by online marketplace eBay as providing value to Post Office customers by essentially making branches one-stop-shops for dropping off goods to sell.

It comes as two-thirds of online marketplace sellers say a single-drop-off point will make life easier – rather than having to visit multiple locations for different couriers, saving small businesses and side hustlers time and money when it comes to posting.

Whilst 42 percent say the wider choice of in-branch couriers will save them money – with one in six saying that face-to-face interactions with postmasters can now help them select the best posting option.

Neill O’Sullivan, Managing Director of Parcels and Mails at Post Office said: “Our new ‘buy-in-branch’ service in partnership with DPD and Evri is a huge moment for Post Office and our customers. We feel the move will be significant in streamlining the UK’s booming online marketplace selling sector. It will essentially make Post Office branches one-stop-shops for online sellers – as postmasters can advise customers over the counter on the most suitable posting options for them. This builds on the success of ‘parcels online’ that launched earlier this year, which allows people to purchase their post online and provides even more choice for customers.

“Whether you’re sending an item for the first time, dropping off a parcel that is being returned or collecting a parcel, our postmasters can help with that.”

A third (31 percent) say that the introduction of multiple in-branch carriers will make Post Office more reliable for deliveries as they can choose the delivery partner which meets their customer needs – and receive additional peace of mind from face-to-face interactions with experienced postmasters.

Post Office is on a mission to inspire people to take up online marketplace selling or grow existing side hustles – and has teamed up with Timi Merriman-Johnson, founder of ‘Mr MoneyJar’, a financial education platform to help mentor, inspire, inform and support budding entrepreneurs.

It comes as over a quarter (28 percent) of people admit they want to try online marketplace selling but have no idea where to start, whilst over half (51 percent) felt they’d earn more money selling if there was more credible advice available.

Whilst 58 percent say they don’t feel their side hustle is reaching its full potential – with 52 percent not having a clue how to turn it into a full-time job. Over half (54 percent) wish they could spot financial potential in items they keep but never use, with 74 percent admitting they hoard items that rarely see the light of day.

As many as 45 percent of people currently have brand-new items, they don’t plan on using lying around their home – which could be resold online.

Timi Merriman-Johnson, founder of financial education platform Mr MoneyJar, said: “As prices continue to soar, embracing reseller platforms to earn extra cash or to become full-time resellers, can help you save for something special or cover additional Christmas expenses.

“My first piece of advice is to get started, experiment with selling different items and choose the right delivery partner via Post Office’s new in-branch or Parcels Online service that allows you to compare and purchase postage online before dropping it off-in store.”

“In each Post Office branch there are knowledgeable postmasters who are on hand to provide tailored advice to ensure posting is as convenient as possible - so do make use of their expertise."

Of those to sell online, the most popular platforms over the last 12 months are eBay (47 percent), Facebook Marketplace (37 percent), Vinted (31 percent) and Gumtree (18 percent).

Mr Money Jar’s side hustle tips:

• Make sure you choose the right delivery partner – late delivery is the biggest source of negative reviews for online marketplace sellers. If you head down to your local Post Office, a postmaster will be able to advise on the best option for a speedy delivery, so you don’t have to deal with grumpy buyers!
• Save yourself the stress with a single drop off point – Did you know that Post Office has just added DPD and Evri as in-branch courier services now, saving you the dreaded round trip to various drop off points for different couriers – for added convenience.
• Bonus tip, ask for a review - when looking at two similar items, a customer may go with one seller over another based on a higher number of reviews, or a higher rating. So, make sure to ask customers for reviews once a sale is made. You don't ask you don't get!
• Use well optimised keywords in your listing - unless people already know where to find your online store, they are most likely going to find your items through search. Use keywords in your listing which accurately describe what you're selling, use specific descriptive words where appropriate, e.g., colours, heights, weights, and avoid misleading terms about the quality of the item - avoid putting 'brand new' when the item is used.
• Research pricing - sometimes it's not always clear how much you should be charging for an item, and you certainly wouldn't want to undersell yourself! So, if you are selling online, do some research on the platform you're selling on - or on similar platforms - to see the price that items like yours are selling at. If you feel you are offering a premium or sufficiently differentiated offering, then you can sell your item for a bit more. If your item is of standard quality or used, you can sell it for a bit less. Keep your pricing under review also, as prices change online all the time
• Start with high value items: Get your marketplace selling journey off to a good start by selling high value and in-demand high street second-hand items. Top items that sell well include smartphones (particularly iPhones), games and consoles, branded clothes and footwear, and even textbooks. You’ll be surprised at how much old textbooks can fetch online – selling just a few of them could be worth a pretty penny!
• Second hand selling: If you’re selling second hand items only, you do not have to pay any tax on the money you’ve earned as long as you sell them for less than you bought them for. Any profit you make on second-hand items will have to be declared to HMRC so make sure you double check by using this handy trackeron GOV.UK.
• Take high quality photos: Taking high quality photos in well-lit areas will draw people to your listing and ultimately encouraging them to click through. Make sure you have good lighting, so the item is clearly visible on your page, and don’t forget to take multiple pictures with different angles to help the customer.

Ege Yilmaz, Head of Consumer Selling at eBay UK, said: “Now more than ever, Brits are looking for ways to make a bit of extra cash and selling on eBay is a great way to do just that. As we look ahead to the festive season, selling pre-loved or unused items is the perfect way to boost your bank balance. Last year, we saw more people selling unwanted Christmas gifts, saving them from landfill and giving them the chance to be loved by someone else. It’s a great time of year to have a look around the home as you never know how much money you may make.

“We are pleased that Post Office now accept parcels from DPD and EVRi - it makes dropping off items that have been sold much easier for sellers.”

ENDS
Research of 2,000 Britons was commissioned by the Post Office and was conducted by Perspectus Global in August 2023

About the Post Office

• Post Office’s buy-in-branch service builds on the success of Parcels Online which launched earlier in the year to bring more choice to customers buying postage online.
• If you send parcels and other mail items often, the Post Office Drop & Go service lets you drop them off in branch and go. No queuing at the counter, scanning, weighing or adding postage labels.
• With over 11,500 branches, Post Office has the biggest retail network in the UK, with more branches than all the banks and building societies combined.
• Customers can check exactly what can and can’t be sent through the post online.
• Last posting dates for all our services are available on our website.
• Post Office is helping anyone who wants cash to get it whichever way is most convenient. Partnership with over 30 banks, building societies and credit unions means that 99% of UK bank customers can access their accounts at their Post Office.
• Cash withdrawals, deposits and balance enquiries can be made securely and conveniently over the counter at any Post Office; and the biggest investment by any organisation or company in the last decade is being made to safeguard 1,400 free-to-use ATMs across the UK.
• Post Office is simplifying its proposition for Postmasters with a focus on its cash and banking; mails and parcels; foreign exchange; and bill payments services.
• Research has found that visits to the Post Office help drive another 400 million visitors to other shops, restaurants and local businesses equating to an estimated £1.1 billion in additional revenue for High Street businesses.
• Christmas stamps are now available at Post Office branches and customers can also collect a form to return old (non-barcoded) stamps from our branches too.
• 99.7% of the population live within three miles of a Post Office; and 4,000 branches are open seven days a week.