UK-based businesses selling on Amazon Marketplace are expected to see export sales top £1.8 billion in 2016 – that’s 29 per cent up on the year before.
According to the online retailer, more than 60 per cent of UK SMEs selling on Amazon Marketplace are now exporting to customers around the world. The number exporting to European customers has increased by more than 40 per cent in the past 12 months.
Independent research from Keystone Strategy, meanwhile, revealed that 74,000 people have been employed by UK-based sellers as a result of their business on Amazon.
Amazon also claimed that half of items sold on its global sites came from Marketplace sellers.
It has also launched its first Amazon Academy in the UK, which aims to provide SMEs with practical ideas and support to help them boost online sales and exports to customers worldwide.
“The days of only being able to sell products to customers in one town, region or country are long gone,” said François Saugier, vice-president of EU Seller Services. “Today, businesses of all sizes can easily export their products to customers across Europe and the world, and we are seeing a significant increase in the number of UK businesses capitalising on this opportunity.”
Doug Gurr, UK country manager at Amazon, added: “Our aim is to provide the tools and services that make it as easy for small businesses to sell abroad as it is in their home country. Every day, we are seeing more UK businesses expanding their horizons by offering their products on a European or global basis, opening themselves up to tens of millions of additional potential customers at the click of a button.”
International Trade Secretary Liam Fox concluded: “E-marketplaces like Amazon are a great way for UK businesses to break into overseas markets and grow their businesses, so this is a welcome boost to export sales. We want to help more small and medium-sized organisations take their first step into exporting, and that’s why we’ve created a new GREAT.gov.uk exporting digital hub, linking in with tools and guidance from Amazon, to help them get best possible support and advice.”
