THE BUSINESS BRIEFING / UK SELLERS & SMALL BUSINESSES
eBay is hosting a free online live-selling session today. International Trade Week continues, and we checked the latest dated UK marketplace notices and business updates.
Context photoeBay and the UK Government’s Business Academy are hosting a free online seller webinar on 11 November, 3–4pm, covering how eBay Live works, setup and selling to buyers in the UK and abroad.
If you are curious about live selling, use the session to judge the time, stock and presentation it would take before committing to a regular schedule.
A LITTLE KNOW-HOW FOR THE WORKING DAY
Context photoA GOV.UK listing published 9 November describes four to ten hours of tailored coaching over up to six months for qualifying Worcestershire businesses with up to four workers.
If your business is based in Worcestershire and has traded for at least a year, check the programme’s current eligibility and use coaching to work on one practical sales or margin goal.
Context photoThe government-backed International Trade Week runs from 9 to 13 November, with online business sessions, an export-support hub and an export-planning workshop on Friday.
If you are considering overseas sales, use a session to test one product, destination and delivery cost before committing stock.
Context photoeBay’s November UK Seller News says an order tag can flag buyers with multiple orders that may ship together, and sellers can reply to messages from the Active Listings page.
Check order details and postage rules before combining parcels, and use the listing-page shortcut to answer buyer questions promptly.
Context photoShopify’s 5 November changelog says store owners can review app security status, sensitive-data permissions, expiring access tokens and enforced IP restrictions in Settings > Apps.
Use the new admin view to review apps you still need, what data they can access and whether any access tokens or IP restrictions need attention.
Context photoWalmart says that from January 2027, products with high rates of seller-accountable returns may receive a warning or be temporarily unpublished, even when the account-level return rate meets its standard.
Use the new Seller Center item-level return insights to find repeat issues and improve product information before enforcement starts.
Context photoTikTok announced that its German deal weeks will run from 11 November to 16 December, with the busiest campaign phase scheduled for 23–30 November.
If you already sell on TikTok Shop Germany, pick the products and order volume you can support before booking livestreams or agreeing creator commissions.
Context photoFigures published on 5 November put the UK’s private sector business population at about 5.6 million at the start of 2026, down 1.8% from a year earlier.
Use the national figures for context, then check what your own customers and local market are doing.
Context photoThe Bank of England announced a quarter-point rise in Bank Rate to 4% on 5 November. The effect on an individual business depends on its borrowing terms.
Check which debts are fixed or variable, and ask your lender when any revised payment starts.
Context photoThe ONS reported that, among businesses with at least 10 employees, 31% were concerned about international conflict affecting supply chains and 21% about shipping disruption over the next year.
Identify the one delivery or supplier problem most likely to stop you shipping orders, then test a fallback.
Context photoThe government confirmed on 3 November how it intends to fund part of its industrial electricity relief scheme. The scheme is planned for April 2027 and applies to eligible manufacturers.
Check eligibility and keep your current electricity budget in place until you know what applies to your business and when.
Context photoProposed energy broker rules put automatic renewals in focus. Here’s how Bionic describes its service, what happened when one business owner missed the email, and what to check before your next renewal.
Check whether your broker can sign for you, when you can stop a renewal, and what the standing charge adds up to over the full term.
Context photoEligible UK micro, small and medium organisations can get a 75% discount on a first Cyber Essentials certificate. The government says assessment prices range from £80 to £125 plus VAT, subject to eligibility and remaining funds.
Check the four-year certification rule, your organisation size and the funding terms before registering; allow time and budget to put the required controls in place.
Context photoFrom 3 November 2026, Amazon says sellers can request VAT Transactions Reports during the month. Reports can be downloaded again when information changes, and a new update-date column helps identify revisions.
Ask your bookkeeper or software provider how refreshed reports will be reconciled before importing the same period twice.
Context photoThe CMA’s 2 November open letter reminds online retailers to include unavoidable delivery charges in the total price throughout the buying process. It also addresses marketplaces and comparison sites. This is a reminder about existing price-transparency requirements, not a new delivery tax.
Follow one real product from advert to payment and check where the total price is shown.
Context photoFrom 1 November 2026, most UK purchases made through 25 December fall within Amazon’s extended holiday returns window: until 31 January 2027, or 30 days after delivery if later. Both FBA and seller-fulfilled orders are covered, with normal eligibility rules unchanged.
Build a returns allowance into your festive cash plan before committing the sales money to your next stock order.
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We check primary sources, write original explanations and separate reported facts from SellerBundle’s practical suggestions. A checked source is not a claim that we found every announcement.
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