eBay plans to open its first “concept store”, offering small businesses the chance to sell and “showcase” their products.

The store will be based in Wolverhampton for a month, with eBay saying it was aiming to help “reinvent” traditional high street retailing.

Around 40 small companies will be involved in what is being described as a retail experiment.

Rob Hattrell, vice president of eBay in the UK, said: “The small retailers taking part in Wolverhampton’s retail revival have already shown that physical and online retail can survive, and thrive, together.

“They have achieved more than £2 million in sales as of March and many have employed more staff as a direct result of the partnership.

“This pop-up store aims to take that growth, and the value of this programme, to the next level.

eBay's Retail Revival programme started as a partnership with the City of Wolverhampton to help small retailers online.

The partnership between eBay and the City of Wolverhampton sees experts from eBay provide exclusive support to small retailers who want to start up or expand their online presence, seeking to grow the local economy and demonstrate that online and high street retail can survive and thrive together.

Participants in the programme benefit from one-on-one support to create a personalised eBay shop, a training program that covers eBay selling basics as well as digital skills such as Search Engine Optimisation and promotional support.