With a significant increase in the cost of living due to rising energy prices and inflation at an all-time high – the UK is facing a major cash crisis. According to reports, inflation rates are set to rise from 5.5% to 7.25% by spring, which could see the average price of a pint soar to £10.50, well above its current £3.96.
And with the price of other household items also likely to rise, Brit consumer confidence has significantly declined, forcing many to dip into their savings to stay afloat or seek additional ways to make money. In fact, a survey conducted by leading online retailer eBay revealed that 75% of its sellers began selling pre-owned goods in 2020 as a way to boost income amid the pandemic.
eBay’s top-grossing categories and brands
With this in mind, data analysts at Wholesale Clearance UK have conducted research to find eBay’s top-grossing categories and brands of the last year, that are guaranteed to earn you some extra money…
Leading the way, ‘Fashion’ is the highest-grossing category altogether, with four sub-categories featured in the top 10.
Top of the table, watches were the biggest earners for eBay sellers, with £249.4million grossed from the sales of 5.7 million items between 2021 and February this year – £43.6million grossed from Rolex sales alone. Selling for an average price of £51.00, 81% of these were ‘new’.
Fashion’s sub-category of fabric also made the top 10. With the championing of sustainability and independent retailers, as well as many people creating and selling clothes as a hobby, fabric was the third highest-grossing product on eBay – fetching £197.3million in sales across 11.6 million orders. A roll of fabric sells for an average price of £17.01, with 92% of rolls sold classed as ‘new’.
Women’s dresses, men’s t-shirts and women’s boots also feature. Women’s dresses generated £84.1million from nearly 7 million sales at an average price of £12.45, with just over half in new condition. Men’s t-shirts made £42million from 3.7 million individual sales at an average price of £11.13, with 84% ‘new’. Plus, the sale of 1.7 million pairs of women’s boots grossed £41.9million, selling for £24.66 on average, 71% of which were ‘new’.
It’s no secret that most of the nation got into at-home fitness during the pandemic and the second-highest-grossing category, ‘Sports, Hobbies & Leisure’, reflects that – with £209.9million made from the sales of nearly 5 million bikes. Selling at an average of £41.79 per bike, 90% of these were classed as ‘new’, showing that the marketplace is a popular place to buy and sell new fitness equipment.
Also, in the Sports, Hobbies & Leisure category, the seventh-highest ranking product was dumbbells – with £75.8 million grossed from the sale of 146,467 orders. With gyms closed for months at a time – and operating at limited capacity due to restrictions when they did reopen – consumers were forced to invest in at-home fitness equipment, resulting in a global shortage. Yet, for those who did get their hands on dumbbells, the average reselling price was £51.76 – making them a profitable investment.
In third place was the ‘Home Garden’ category for tables. With the majority of homeowners investing in their gardens last year, this reportedly caused garden furniture prices to rise by 155% – as well as resulting in a global shortage. And, it seems many entrepreneurial Brits took to eBay to cash in, with £168.8million made from the sales of just over four million tables.
Media and Electronics also featured in the top 10, with DVDs (£65.6 million) and headphones (£63.7million) generating 6.8 million and 2.1 million sales, respectively.
Apple, Samsung and Lego were the highest-grossing brands, with Dewalt and Makita also making the top five.
For more information, you can view the full study here.
