eBay India unveils the eBay Census Guide

Company Brief

New Delhi, November 25, 2008

eBay India, India’s leading online marketplace, announced that Delhi residents are the most active Buyers on eBay taking Delhi to the second largest eCommerce Hub in the country, according to the eBay India Census. B Muralikrishnan, Director – Category Management, eBay India today unveiled the eBay Census Guide which documents the key findings and trends in buying and selling across Indians in the Top 100 eCommerce Cities and 28 States & 6 Union Territories.

India’s Top 5 eCommerce Hubs are the metro cities of Mumbai, closely followed by Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore & Chennai. According to the eBay India Census, Mr. B Muralikrishnan revealed:

eCommerce has become mainstream: Over 2427 cities had online transactions in 2007. The IT Hubs of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka were the most wired states of India with the maximum number of towns where eCommerce originates.

eCommerce helps bridge distribution inefficiencies: Online marketplaces like eBay help create trade between metros and class B & C cities by bridging the demand and supply gap. Over a third of all products bought by eBayers in the Hilly areas (North East, Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh) are tech gadgets (Mobile Phones, Digital Cameras and USB Drives). While women from Metros are buying a lot of sarees, the sellers are spread across various cities & towns of India including manufacturing hubs & handicraft hubs like Devanagere (Karnataka), Chittaurgarh (Rajasthan); Lucknow, Kunnamkulam (Kerala)

Bharat displays very different shopping behavior from India: Metro eBayers & Non-Metro eBayers have distinct product preferences. Bharat is looking for a good deal in their online shopping habits and buy more value handsets and discounted branded apparel online. Non-Metro women are buying short kurtis, skirts while Women in Metros are buying hand woven sarees and shawls.

Traditional Handicrafts find an unlikely partner in eCommerce

The handicraft industry in India has always been the forte of craftsmen belonging to smaller villages and towns. However, many of those sellers are now using eBay to reach out to retail buyers in top cities. Kashmiri entrepreneurs sell the most carpets across India. Jodhpuri craftsman sell the most ethnic wooden furniture.

Women Shoppers online are balancing traditional values with more contemporary interests: Women eBayers bought the most Jewellery (Loose Diamonds and Gemstones as investments and Jewellery Sets, Rings & Pendants for daily and occasion wear) followed by Apparel, Women’s Accessories & Health & Beauty.

The eBay Census also revealed many interesting trends about the online shopping habits of Delhiites including:

Trend 1: Delhi– the country’s capital is also the health capital of the country

Delhiites are the most health conscious and bought the most fitness equipment including abdominal exercisers, swimming gear and yoga accessories on eBay.

Trend 2: Culture Hub Delhi has music in the air.

Delhi eBayers bought the maximum Musical Instruments including electric and acoustic guitars and electronic keyboards in the country.

Trend 3: Baby’s day out in Delhi

Kids in Delhi are the most pampered with their parents buying the most baby products including baby furniture, baby toys and baby clothes in the country.

Trend 4: Adventurous Delhi travels in style

Delhi bought the most adventure & camping equipment, rucksacks and strolleys in India.

Trend 5: Delhi believes my home is your castle

Delhi loves entertaining and bought the most bar accessories on eBay

Trend 6: South Delhi has the most active online shoppers on eBay

Men in North Delhi bought the most on Men’s Jewellery & Accessories (rings, cuff links, designer pens and sun glasses) while men in South Delhi prefer apparel

Women in South Delhi are the most savvy when it comes to online shopping.

East Delhi loves personal gadgets like Mobile Phones, MP3 players etc

West Delhi is the Collector’s hub with the hot favorites being Indian and World Stamps

Households of Central Delhi are more religiously inclined and love to decorate their houses with artifacts (wall décor, mirrors, candle stands, vases) from various parts of the country

Delhi’s Top 5 Bought & Sold

Indian Stamps, Diamonds, MP4 Players, Value Handsets and USB Drives are the Top 5 purchases by eBayers in Delhi.

Delhi Entrepreneurs Top Sold Products include Indian Stamps, Textbooks, Women’s Apparel, FM Radios and USB Drives.

The eBay Census is the first of its kind research, designed to throw light on online buying and selling behavior amongst India. By analyzing eBay activity within the 28 Indian states, 6 Union Territories, and the Top 100 cities, eBay identified their top online buying and selling communities based on the number of transactions that have happened on the eBay India site over the year 2007.

Interesting fun facts, unusual purchases and national and local trends come to light via the eBay Census. We’ve revealed the who, what, and where of eBay India transactions. From Jammu & Kashmir to Andaman & Nicobar to Nagaland to Daman & Diu, and from Cricket Balls to Bollywood Memorabilia to iPods – we covered it all in the eBay Census. Log onto www.eBay.in/census to know how your community ranked.

For further information, please contact:

Vaishnavi Corporate Communications

Bhavya Suri

Mobile: 9871772454