Both eBay and Linnworks have revealed some of the Coronavirus sales impact that’s been seen across the UK since the lock down began. Naturally there are some categories which have seen rocketing sales whilst others have dropped like a stone. However there might be a few surprises in there:
Linnworks Coronavirus Sales Impact
Since January, Linnworks say that they have seen a 72% increase in GMV, with the last week of April posting record numbers. All verticals in Linnworks’ top 24 (contributing more than 95% of total GMV through Linnworks platform) have generated more GMV in April than in January, with some categories seeing massive sales leaps compared to the sametime last year. The greatest gains seen by Linnworks, compared to April 2019, have been seen in:
- Office supplies +285%
- Sports equipment +240%
- Home and Garden +200%
- Pet supplies +200%
- Toys +120%
Some categories inevitably saw an initial shock in sales – namely shoes, clothing and electricals – but Linnworks say that they are now seeing sales pick up, with the shoe category experiencing +24% growth in GMV in April compared to March, clothing +18% and electrical +7%.
eBay Coronavirus Sales Impact
eBay released week by week headlines for the past month:
Week 1 of lockdown
The first week of lock down saw consumers setting up their home offices:
- Cardio machine purchases +212%
- Computer monitors +107%
- Laptop stands +313%
- Felt tip pens +1446%
Week 2 of lockdown
The second week of the lock down saw consumers getting bored. Interesting sex toys are one of the booming categories but currently you can’t sell sex toys and use eBay Managed Payments. With a huge appetite for sex this is something that will need to change soon.
- Baking Tins +286%
- Sex toys +53% (A higher increase than in the run up to Valentines day)
- Fancy dress +200%
- Dumb bells +551%
Week 3 of lockdown
After a couple of weeks, consumers started to think about summer and the hot weather saw us kitting out our gardens with the acceptance that we probably won’t get a summer holiday abroad this year.
- Swimming pools +1741%
- Hot tubs +1080%
- BBQs +1051%
- Plants, seeds & bulbs +232%
Week 4 of lockdown
By the fourth week we were bored, bored bored and even getting the paint brushes out was suddenly an attractive diversion.
- Alcohol, brewing and wine making +44%
- Paint +231%
- Drills +77%
- Sewing machines +98%
2 Responses
That’ll be the incorrectly listed Sex Toys up 53% then… those listed as “massagers” that never get taken down? Unless you are a recognised sex toy category seller. Then they are all over you like a rash…
Dont tell anyone but i made a huge purchase of various “massagers” the moment the Government announced the lockdown. So i am probably solely responsible for the 53% increase in sex toys.
Dont forget spare batteries ……….