Ebay is reportedly looking the possibility of opening pop-up or click-and-collect points at some of Sainsbury’s estates.
The news as the supermarket giant powers ahead with its £1.3 billion acquisition of the Home Retail Group, the parent company of Argos, which could see some Argos outlets become concessions within Sainsbury’s larger stores.
Ebay currently has a partnership with Argos in which it allows UK sellers to drop off sold products at the latter brand’s estates for buyers to collect or for Argos to deliver.
Ebay‘s EU advertising strategy, product and operations director Phuong Nguyen told Marketing Week that the Sainsbury‘s deal could open a lot of doors, including the possibility of Ebay pop up stores or a click and collect set-up within Sainsbury‘s 1200 estates.
“We have to be wherever they are, and wherever they want to shop. If that means eBay being more present in locations around the UK then that‘s where we will be,” Nguyen told Marketing Week.
“The retailers that will win can offer world class ecommerce and world class physical retail.
“You can be the best on digital but sometimes a consumer just wants to touch and feel a product – that‘s the power of pop-up locations.”
This would not be the first time online auction retailer launched pop-up stores, having done so in London back in 2012.
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