New analysis shows a 100% increase in online orders from independent retailers since lockdown began.

The coronavirus crisis has seen consumers flocking to online retailers and setting up their own online shops on EKM, the UK’s largest ecommerce platform, which has seen its independent retailers’ orders shoot up by 100% compared to the same period last year. 

The coronavirus crisis has meant millions of people are buying online instead of going into high street stores. Even if rules are relaxed over the coming months, the prospect of heading into the local town centre, standing outside keeping 2 meters apart while risking the chance you may catch something will mean most people will only head in for essentials. For most, shopping as a leisure activity will remain an online-only activity. 

When Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on the 23rd March 2020 that ‘You must stay at home’ the traffic and orders to online shops started increasing at a phenomenal rate. 

For the first time in the history of ecommerce, online retailers haven’t had to compete with the high street and the figures are astonishing. Overall, orders are up by 100% compared to the same period last year and the trend shows no signs of slowing down. EKM saw sales from their independent retailers rise 100% each day between 23rd March and 23rd April.

“There is a clear rush of people trying to set up online shop facilities for their businesses,”  says CEO and founder of EKM Antony Chesworth. “I don’t think there is a business owner on the planet now that doesn’t realise they must be selling online.” 

“It’s been an amazing time for smaller independent businesses who have been able to outmanoeuvre the large retailers and adapt their businesses. In some cases we have seen individual online shops revenue jump over 2,500% in a matter of weeks” Antony added. 

Popular products over the past few months include hobbies, toys and games, garden and patio items, indoor fitness, home office equipment and of course survival items. 

However, this does highlight that those who currently don’t sell online may be suffering and that the world of online retailing will become the future of shopping and may have been propelled forward by the current global situation.

EKM has helped over 80,000 people create an online shop and for this survey and monitored 5,754 online shops from all over the UK during March and April 2020 and compared it with the same sample period in 2019.

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