The latest sales results released by the largest online marketplace provider show positive signs of growth

The latest sales results released by the largest online marketplace provider show positive signs of growth

Ebay businesses enjoyed the busiest quarter in more than three years with final quarter sales up 20% on the same period last year, it reported.

The online marketplace yesterday announced their barometer of retail sales for the 2010 Christmas period, which run from 1 October to 21 December 2010.

The fourth quarter (Q4) sales figures also followed the record breaking ‘Super Sunday’ on the 5 December when more than 5 million shoppers logged onto eBay.co.uk, resulting in the UK site’s busiest shopping day of the year and an increase in sales of 18% on the same day last year.

Increasing penetration online

Small-to-midsized enterprises (SMEs) are making an increasingly important contribution to the UK’s economic recovery and eBay said it has seen an 11% increase in the number of registered businesses operating on the site compared to the same period last year. The increase comes on top of a 6% rise the year before.

Jody Ford, eBay UK director of SME Businesses, commented: “Against the backdrop of a continuing sluggish economic recovery and the difficulties caused by so much wintry weather, it is really encouraging to see online firms have had such a strong final quarter of 2010.

"These figures demonstrate that online continues to outperform the High Street because online firms offer unrivalled choice, unbeatable deals and first class customer service; and so even when times are tough they deliver the winning formula for sustained growth."