eBay acquires Shutl to rocket ahead with ecommerce

London startup Shutl has been acquired by eBay.

The Tech City company uses a network of couriers to deliver local goods within a couple of hours of an online purchase.

The move, reported by Tech Crunch’s Mike Butcher, could add a new level of speed to the game of ecommerce.

Local shopping

eBay Marketplaces president Devin Weinig said: ‘Approximately 75 percent of what people buy is local, found within 15 miles from their home.’

‘Traditional retail isn’t going away. But it is transforming, and that creates enormous opportunity within the 10 trillion dollar total commerce market.’

Last month eBay launched its “Click & Collect” service in the UK, where shoppers can buy from eBay online and select a retail location to collect from.

Rocket fuel

Since being founded in 2008, Shutl has made impressions in the UK and beyond, winning the transport category at the Europas this year.

Founder Tom Allason is now considered a veteran entrepreneur, having been a mentor for the Government-backed £37.5m Episode 1 Fund.

The startup is also backed by Tech City’s Index Ventures and Passion Capital, and has raised a total of $8.69M from UK Angels alongside Hummingbird Ventures, UPS Strategic Enterprise Fund, e.ventures and Notion Capital.