UK sees surge in new e-tail businesses during pandemic

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Feb 25, 2021

It wasn’t all about lost jobs and failing businesses last year. A new study reveals 835,494 new businesses were registered in the 12 months to January 2021, more than in the previous three years, with the online retail sector the main beneficiary.

Reflecting the major shift in retail focus during the pandemic, the sector with the most newly registered businesses was classified under ‘Retail sale via mail order houses or via internet’ with 39,733 registrations, according to digital firm Reboot SEO Agency. 

These businesses included internet auctions, internet retail sales, mail order, radio direct sales, telephone direct sales, and television direct sales. 

London was the main city hub for new businesses showing that 219,679 new firms were registered in the English capital. Second was Birmingham with 19,724 registered, and third, Manchester with 17,517 businesses registered in the last year.

The pandemic has seen a burst of entrepreneurial businesses being launched as workers have lost jobs and consumers have found themselves at a loose end while on furlough. And the tools available from giants such as Shopify and Facebook make it easier than ever to set up an online shop.

Meanwhile, more and more retailers are extending into the marketplace arena, giving smaller businesses a route to growth. Spanish fashion giant Mango is the latest big name to debut in the marketplace channel.