Holiday 2021
Make the most of the busiest selling season of the year with the latest tips, tools and insights.
What’s in store for the season
31% of U.S. consumers say they’ll start holiday shopping before the end of October*
2021 U.S. holiday retail sales are predicted to increase 2.7% to $1.093 trillion**
e-commerce will account for a record-breaking 18.9% of all holiday retail sales**
Let’s talk about shipping
Holiday shopping season is in full swing. How do expert sellers stay on top of shipping during the busiest time of year?
Retail trends
Here are several of the hottest categories and items for the holiday season:
Collectibles & Nostalgia
Buyers are snapping up the Polaroid Go camera, Funko POP! figures, trading cards and vinyl records.
Fashion & Luxury Items
Trending items include collectible sneakers, classic Louis Vuitton handbags, designer clothing and luxury watches.
Toys & Games
Expect high demand for gaming consoles such the PS5, Xbox X, and Nintendo Switch OLED, plus Paw Patrol toys, LEGO kits, Exploding Kittens & Not Parent Approved card games, Popit Fidget toys and the Virtual Fairy Finder.
Self-Care
Some of the best-selling items include massage guns, essential oil diffusers, herbal teas and scented candles.
Coming up for Sellers on eBay
We’ve added some new features and resources to help you grow your business this holiday season.
Listing & Promoting
- Category changes to help buyers find your items
- New item specifics updates and requirements
- Send coded coupons to buyer groups
- Promoted Listings expansion and rebrand
Running Your Business
- Attract buyers and build your brand with eBay Stores
- New research and performance tools in Seller Hub
- New multi-user account access permissions and protection
Holiday insights, tips and tools to help you sell more
The 2021 holiday rush has begun. And our Seller Holiday Shipping Guide can help you sell more items and ship them more smoothly during the busiest time of year.
Know your holiday carrier cutoffs
Make sure it ships on time. Check our carrier cutoff table to help your orders arrive by December 25.
Stay current with other Seller insights and eBay News
Listen to our weekly podcast
Weekly tips on starting, running, and growing your business.
eBay for Business on YouTube
Whether you’re just starting to sell and looking for instructions and tips, or you’re a reseller building a small business, we’ll share the inspiration, how-tos, news, advice, and seller stories to help power your success.
Great tips for any peak selling season
8 best practices for Sellers
How to create the perfect listing any time of year
There are four parts to the perfect listing
- Title
- Item Specifics
- Quality Photos
- Price
Examples of perfect listing titles
Fashion
- Lululemon Swiftly Tech LS 2.0 Iced Iris Crew Shirt Long Sleeve
- Nike Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Baroque Brown Bio Hack Size 11
Electronics
- VIZIO V405-H19 V-Series 40" Class 4K HDR 120Hz Smart TV New
- Google Chromecast Ultra 4K Digital Media Streamer - Black (GA3A00403A14)
Trading Cards & Collectibles
- 2021 Topps Series 1 Short Print Photo Variation Babe Ruth (#81) Yankees SP
- Hallmark 2020 Holiday Ornament Gingerbread Cutie – 11th in Christmas Cupcakes – Mint in box
Pro Tip: Perfect titles AND item specifics help searchability of your listings.
Sell more during peak periods
Boost your visibility
Improve exposure with Promoted Listings.
Sell more with volume pricing
Your customers will spend more, buy more.
Centralize your business
Manage your business with one convenient tool.
Tips to boost your profits
Get more value with eBay Labels
Print, manage, track, and save with eBay Labels.
Use offers to buyers
When buyers show interest in your product target them with an offer.
Keep selling after the sale
Offer post-sale deals and discounts.
Tips for taking time away from your business
Everyone occasionally needs some time away—whether it’s to recharge your batteries, take care of an emergency, or catch up on orders during peak times.
You can let buyers know you’re away for a period of time without worrying. When you indicate you’ll be away, your handling and estimated delivery times will automatically be adjusted. You can also schedule this time in advance.
Win the season with these social channel tactics