eBay Australia and Woolworths today announced an Australian first partnership that enables eBay buyers and sellers to pick up online purchases in selected Woolworths and BIG W stores.
Today, buyers will be able to choose from more than 40,000 items on eBay and collect orders from their choice of more than 90 Woolworths and BIG W stores across Sydney and Tasmania, where the service will initially launch.
The new service launches in response to the growing online retail landscape and consumer demand. New research by eBay reveals that one in five online shoppers in Australia buys online at least once a week, yet almost half (47 per cent) are not permitted to receive personal deliveries at work. A quarter (23 per cent) have taken leave or worked from home in order to receive an online delivery. Half (49 per cent) re-direct personal online deliveries because they are at work.
With this in mind, eBay and Woolworths have developed a service that will provide the most convenient delivery network for online shopping in Australia, giving consumers the chance to choose a collection point that suits their needs.
The partnership is a significant opportunity for retailers, with a surge in purchase frequency predicted for over two million Australian eBay users. This will offer entrepreneurs, and small to large businesses, the chance to boost their reach and introduce an additional revenue stream.
Hamish Moline, eBay merchant development director, said: “The online retail industry is growing faster than ever. Last year, Australians spent $16.4 billion in this sector alone. As it continues to expand, the traditional retail model is evolving and the lines between online and offline blurring. Consumers now expect a more bespoke experience that meets their needs.
“The new service creates a brand new avenue for our sellers, driving traffic and encouraging a rise in sales that could change the face of businesses all over the country. Not only that, it’s a service we hope will revolutionise the way Australians shop, enabling a new and convenient way to get the things they need and want every day.”
With 91 per cent of Australians living within 10km of a Woolworths store, eBay and Woolworths project there will be up to 12,000 sellers involved, and additional Woolworths and BIG W stores included as the service ramps up over the next three years.
Emily Amos, general manager Woolworths Marketplace, said: “Woolworths is Australia’s largest domestic retailer and we know our customers are busier than ever and are looking for greater convenience and ease in everything they do. This new service will help them make best use of their time by removing the need to wait at home for a parcel to arrive.
“This unique partnership will change retailing in Australia. It brings together Woolworths, Australia’s largest retailer, and eBay, one of the world’s largest online marketplaces, to deliver the ultimate in shopping convenience,” she said.
Hamish Moline addded: “Convenient delivery options have already proved hugely successful for eBay UK via a partnership with Argos and we’re looking forward to seeing an equally impressive uptake in Australia through a partnership that re-imagines retail.”
James Harvey operations manager from participating seller Your Home Depot says: “This is a click and collect service like no other and is a fantastic opportunity for us to not only offer a more convenient way to shop for our current customers, but opens us up to an entirely new retail channel. Having the opportunity to take advantage of a ready-made national network of physical stores means it is an exciting time to be a retailer in Australia.”
The new Click & Collect service launches with sellers including Your Home Depot, No Frills, Surf Stitch, Mytopia, Futu Online and Golfbox. The service will expand to include 250 sellers within two months.
