LONDON, October 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --
Three quarters of 'e-pportunists' hope to grow their hobby into a full-time business
The number of people earning a second income by trading online has doubled in the last year. A survey by Collect+, the parcel delivery and returns service, dubs such online entrepreneurs 'e-pportunists', finding that a third earn over £10,000 a year.[1] Over half (59%) of those trading online began doing so within the last 12 months, suggesting many have turned to the net to supplement their income as real wages fall and the job market remains stagnant. More than a quarter of these (26 per cent) are young entrepreneurs, aged 25-34.
According to the research, many e-pportunists depend on the additional income to make ends meet: almost a quarter (23 per cent) said that they would struggle to pay bills without this additional income. However, for a third of those surveyed, success has meant that they are planning to leave their day job and focus on online trading as their primary source of income in the near future. That ambition is shared by almost three-quarters (71 per cent) of those quizzed, who hope to grow their hobby into a full-time business and start employing staff.
Mark Lewis, CEO of Collect+, says of the research:
"I have met with many of these e-pportunists who find an additional income online, for example selling on eBay. But to do this full time, and to make the leap of faith required, you need to know that the support is out there for you to scale your operation. One element that can often be forgotten is how do I get my goods to customers? For many juggling the demands of stating up a business being able to send goods outside of normal working hours is real help."
The entrepreneurial spirit is particularly strong among younger self-starters. Recent research found that 32 per cent of graduates in 2010 and 2011 are considering starting up their own company following graduation and that nearly a quarter are already running a business.[2]
This latest research finds that a quarter (25 per cent) can't afford to spare any more of their time on their own business, struggling to fit it in and around the demands of their day job. In addition to the pressures of time, many e-pportunists are held back by access to finance. 44 per cent of those who trade online are fearful that they do not have enough capital to grow the business any further.
Collect+ offers easy to use parcel send services through 4,000 specially selected local retailers that are part of the PayPoint network. All are open from early until late and the vast majority are open seven days a week, meaning that people can pick up or send parcels at a time convenient to them. Collect+ services are securely delivered by Yodel, the UK's leading parcel delivery company.
About Collect+
Collect+ is a delivery and returns service giving online shoppers greater freedom and flexibility with the choice of collecting and dropping off parcels at local convenience stores.
With 98% of Collect+ outlets open seven days a week and, normally, early in the morning until late at night, the service offers online shoppers the option to pick up or drop off purchases at a time and place convenient to them. 80% of the UK population lives within a mile of a Collect+ store in urban areas, and five miles in rural areas.
Collect+ services are securely delivered by Yodel, the UK's leading parcel delivery company, and the retail payment network PayPoint.
About PayPoint
PayPoint is a leading international provider of convenient payments and value added services to major consumer service organisations in the utility, housing, water, telecoms, media, financial services, transport, retail, e-commerce, gaming and public sectors.
PayPoint delivers payments and services through a uniquely strong combination of local shops, internet and mobile distribution channels and handles over £10 billion from 590 million transactions annually for more than 6,000 clients and merchants.
Retail networks
The PayPoint branded retail network in the UK numbers 23,000 local shops (including Co-op, Spar, McColls, Costcutter, Sainsbury's Local, One Stop, Londis and thousands of independents). Collect+, a joint venture with Yodel, provides a parcel collection and drop off service at more than 3,800 PayPoint retailers. Its ATM network numbers more than 2,500 'LINK' branded machines across the UK, mainly in the same sites as PayPoint terminals.
In Romania, the branded retail network numbers over 6,000 terminals located in local shops, processing cash bill payments for utilities and mobile phone top-ups. In Ireland, over 500 outlets in shops and credit unions process mobile top-ups and bill payments.
Internet
PayPoint.net is an internet payment service provider linking into all major UK acquiring banks to deliver secure online credit and debit card payments for over 5,500 web merchants. It offers a comprehensive set of products ranging from a transaction gateway through to a bureau service and FraudGuard, an advanced service to mitigate the risk of fraud.
PayByPhone
PayByPhone is a leading international provider of services to parking authorities allowing consumers to use their mobile phones to pay for their parking by credit or debit card. It has contracts in the UK, France, Canada and the USA.
PayPoint is widely recognised for its leadership in prepayment systems, smart technology and consumer service.
About Yodel
Notes to Editors
- Home Delivery Network Ltd on 1 March 2010 purchased through its subsidiary company, Parcelpoint Ltd, the domestic B2B and B2C businesses of DHL Express (UK) Ltd and rebranded as Yodel in May 2010
- Yodel delivers more than 200 million parcels per year with annual revenues of £650 million
- It is the second-largest parcel delivery business in the UK after the Royal Mail
- Yodel operates from a national network of hubs and service centres and has a fleet of 5,000 vans
- The company is headquartered in Hatfield
1. A survey of 368 'e-pportunists' through Startups.co.uk, on behalf of Collect+
2. http://www.startups.co.uk/the-rise-of-the-young-entrepreneur_1.html
Notes to editors
For more information please contact the Collect+ Press Office on:
T: +44(0)207-025-6500
E: [email protected]
SOURCE Collect+
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