Mumbai & Maharashtra numero uno in eBay Census!!

eBay India , India's leading online marketplace, announced that Mumbai is the No. 1 eCommerce Hub* in India according to the eBay Census. Ambareesh Murty, Country Manager, 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. Mumbaikars lead the way with the most online transaction originating in the city and helps propel the state of Maharashtra to the Top eBay Community. Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore & Chennai made up the rest of the Top 5 eCommerce Hubs in the country.

According to the eBay India Census, Mr. Ambareesh Murty 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 revealed many interesting trends about the online shopping habits of Mumbaikars including:

Trend 1: Mumbai – the financial capital of India also buys the most currency counting machines

Mumbaikars clearly having the cash registers ringing with the retail boom as they bought the most Currency Counters in the country online.

Trend 2: Trendy Youth in Mumbai wear their attitude on their sleeve.

Youth in Mumbai bought the most Slogan T-Shirts & Tattoos in India.

Trend 3: Mumbai Women believe a Diamonds is a girl’s best friend

Loose Diamonds and Diamond Rings are among the Most Bought products by Mumbaikars. Love is clearly in the air in the City of Dreams as Mumbai also bought the most flower bouquets online.

Trend 4: Mumbaikars love Gaming

Mumbai bought the most gaming consoles in India.

Trend 5: Western Suburbs have the most active eBay Communities in the city

• Andheri is the most active Mumbai suburbs on eBay followed by Borivali, Malad, Kandivali & Bandra
• Men in Bandra buy the most Men’s Jewellery.
• Bandra women buy more rings, while Malad women prefer bracelets, Dadar women have a weakness for earrings
• Goregaon collects Zippo lighters
• Women in Borivali buy more lingerie online than women in other parts of Mumbai
• Chemburites have greater interest in Bird Watching as they buy more binoculars than other Mumbaikars.
• People in Andheri buy the most Rudrakashas and Sree Yantras
• Mahim homes prefer the ethnic touch to their homes with handicrafts

Mumbai’s Top 5 Bought & Sold

Loose Diamonds, Value Handsets, MP4 Players, USB MP4 Players and Indian Stamps are the Top 5 purchases by eBayers in Mumbai reflecting the Mumbaikars interest in music-on-the-go to while away the daily commute.

Interestingly. Mumbai Entrepreneurs Top Sold Products show remarkable similarity with Diamonds, Value Handsets, USB MP3 Players, Indian Stamps and Jewellery Sets making up the Top 5.

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.