Online auction site eBay is reportedly considering setting up a physical presence in Sainsbury’s stores, building on its current presence in Argos. The deal could create 1,000 new jobs in Argos, which was recently acquired by the supermarket for £1.4 billion. A Sainsbury’s spokesman says: “In terms of what happens next we’re looking at all channels – food and non food and we’re looking to bring more concessions in so there’ll be many more Argos stores.”

Speaking to Marketing Week, eBay’s director of EU advertising strategy, product and operations Phuong Nguyen added: “If there’s one clear thing from the strategy with Argos we’ve learned it is that consumers today want to shop on their terms. We have to be wherever they are, and wherever they want to shop. If that means eBay being more present in locations around the UK then that’s where we will be.

“The retailers that will win can offer world class ecommerce and world class physical retail. You can be the best on digital but sometimes a consumer just wants to touch and feel a product – that’s the power of pop-up locations.”