Most of us want to leave 2020 firmly in the rear view mirror. Rather than hitting you with a full Year in Review blog post, we'll give you brief rundown of what we got up to in the weirdest year in recent memory...
The Paperclip community
We managed to grow our userbase 2.5x, from 100,000 to 250,000 users!
Our university presence grew 4x from 42 to 168 universities.
2020 saw a record number of transactions across our public, student and enterprise marketplaces.
Our Digital Welcome Pack for university freshers and returning students was launched. Here worked huge brands such as Wilko, tastecard, Amazon Prime, Perlego and Ola to provide real value to our student userbase.
We launched our Digital Welcome Pack for students in Autumn 2020...
We gave away hundreds of freebies, shopping vouchers and even a brand new PlayStation 5 to our beloved trading community!
Marketplace upgrades
Payments was released, enabling our users to buy and sell securely with online payments, the next step in our plan to add delivery and rental services...
From September 2020, our users could purchase items using their credit/debit card!
Our homepage got a makeover and made upgrades to our buying, selling and messaging user experience.
We consolidated all of our university marketplaces onto a single marketplace, enabling students from any university to buy and sell with students at any other university and the wider public
We brought onboard some key advisory talent and investors with a successful investment round.
And finally, Keith Parkman (COO) and Millie Bowie (Designer) joined us full time, providing fantastic marketing, design and commercial sales talent and experience with them...
Despite some real progress in a number of areas, rest assured that we're just as keen to see the back of 2020 as you are.
Thanks for checking out our Year in Review and here's to a happy and healthy 2021!
The team at Paperclip HQ have decided to pull out all the stops for our annual holiday giveaway.
Last month, our CEO Rich managed to get his hands on a coveted Sony PlayStation 5! As tempting as it was to set it up and begin a month-long binge of Call of Duty, we decided that we should give it away free to one lucky Paperclip user...
For real?
You better believe it! This year's must-have festive gift, brand new and delivered to your door in time for the big day. This is just a little thank you to our amazing users and followers on social media throughout what has been a pretty tough year for us all.
But that's not all! There will be two runner-up prizes of £50 credit to spend on anything on the Paperclip marketplace!
How do I enter?
It's super simple to enter and only takes a couple of minutes.
All you need to do is; head to one of our social media (either our Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.
4.) Download the Paperclip app and make an offer of any amount the PS5 listed on the @paperclipofficial account (don't worry, you wont be charged)!
5.) Cross your fingers and sit back
Don't have Instagram? You can do the same on our posts on Twitter or on Facebook.
Want to improve your chances of winning?
For more chances to win...
1.) Post our Instagram PS5 image to your story
2.) Follow us on tiktok: @papercliphq
3.) Add a legit item on the paperclip marketplace
4.) Tag more friends (3x more friends = 1 more entry)
When will you announce the winner?
Winners will be announced at 3pm on 22nd December on our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages.
Don't worry, in case you forget to check, we will email all of our prize winners that morning too.
Terms and conditions
This competition is not endorsed by Instagram, Twitter or any other social media platform.
This competition is promoted by Paperclip App Ltd (Promoter).
Competition entry is only open to residents of the United Kingdom aged 18 years or older. No purchase necessary.
Prize is supplied by Paperclip. Delivery to be arranged by the Promoter.
The Promoter will not be responsible for lost or late competition entries.
The deadline for entries is 2pm on 18th December 2020. This may be extended due to unforeseen circumstances.
The winner will be chosen at random and will be notified via email or social media.
If the Promoter cannot: (a) contact the winner (via the details provided at the date of entry) within 5 working days or (b) the winner does not return details of its postal address to the Promoter within 14 days of notification that they have won the Prize, the Promoter reserves the right to re-draw a new winner until a winner on these terms is found.
If you have any questions, you can get in touch by sending the Paperclip team an email at: hello@paperclip.co
It's been a little while since our last big update, but this one's well worth waiting for...
Not only have we given our marketplace a makeover, but we have made it even easier to buy, sell, and swap with the UK's most trusted trading community!
Safe & speedy payments
You can now pay (and accept payments) for items by debit and credit card.
All you need to do to get started is head to 'settings' and set up your Paperclip Wallet. You can link your chosen card to your account and pay for your new items from the comfort of your own home.
Likewise, if you're selling your stuff, there's no need to meet up face-to-face or use a third party to receive your hard-earned cash. You can arrange delivery with the buyer and once they have received your item, funds will be available in your Paperclip Wallet. You can then withdraw funds to your chosen account. Job done.
No cash, no fuss, and most importantly, no contact.
A new look...
We've had a makeover!
Though we've added a whole load of new options for buying and selling, we've made sure the app looks great and is still super easy to use.
As well as the new settings sections for payments and the changes to the onboarding process, you may notice some small changes to your homepage. We're always striving to make your trading experience as secure and as straightforward as it possibly can be.
Power to the students!
If you are a user of our campus marketplaces, you can now buy and sell with students other unis as well as the general public! This means that there are more items for you to browse and a much greater chance of you finding a new home for your unloved items.
Save money, make money, feel great about it. Rediscover the Paperclip marketplace today.
Back in Spring, the Paperclip team began to thinking of ideas to help new and returning students during these incredibly challenging times...
After much discussion, we settled on creating a welcome pack for new and returning students in the absence of traditional fresher's fairs on campus. The plan was to create a digital package which would provide students with everything they need for the first few weeks of uni.
The team first reached out to our Brand Ambassadors on campus and quickly began surveying students to see what products and services they needed most for the start of term. We then began speaking to a number of potential sponsors, from niche online retailers to well known high street brands, to secure as many freebies and student discounts as possible in time for the start of the new year.
Before long we had 30 sponsors on board and we were able to supply students with some fabulous goodies to run alongside competitions and our guides to student living. We then reached out to some of the biggest names in the student blog/vlogosphere to get the word out to students over the summer months...
Fast-forward to fresher's week, and over 100,000 students (and counting) have signed up for a pack!
So, what's inside?
With over 30 different deals on offer, there really is something for everyone. Some of our most popular offers have been free Amazon Prime membership for half a year, free snackboxes from Graze and a free trial Tastecard for three months. We have also seen hundreds of students rush to grab freebies from Gillette, Perlego and access great discounts on student bundles from Wilko. Hundreds more jumped at the chance to make big savings on supplements from MyVitamins, Grenade and more...
We also made it a priority to champion up-and-coming brands and start-ups too. Students have been able to take advantage of sweet discounts on gymwear from Distance & wellbeing products from our neighbours at Kokora.
Not only this but we've added some great content from popular student influencers as well. This runs alongside our own guides to moving in, house sharing etiquette, balancing a budget and staying safe on a night out.
How do I get my hands on one?
Packs are still available and will be 'til the end of term. Just head to the yourfreshers.co.uk site to get instant access today.
Follow us on Twitter to get the latest news from Paperclip HQ.
The team at Paperclip are delighted to announce that homewear retailer Wilko will be offering a huge range of discounts on their 'back-to-uni' items and 'student bundles' to everyone who has signed up for our Digital Welcome Pack.
Wilko will be joining the likes of Amazon, Ola and Perlego in the new pack which will be released the end of the month. Not only can students enjoy money off duvets, cushions and decor for thier new uni crib, but Wilko will also be offering huge discounts on tech essentials such as headphones, power banks, printers and more...
Student Bundles
This year, Wilko will be offering a number of Student Bundles to save you heaps of cash (and making multiple trips to the high street during your first few weeks on campus).
Wilko's kitchen in a box
Not only can you get all your kitchen essentials (spoons, corkscrew, chopping boards, grater, etc) in one bundle, but you can also get your bedding and desktop set-ups sorted in just a couple of clicks. All items are conveniently packed in a sturdy, plastic, water-proof container with hand grips, perfect for the big move.
We've made it super simple to access these great deals, all you have to do is wait for the Welcome Pack to drop into your inbox and follow the link to start saving - there's no need to enter a promo code or create another account.
Speaking about the new additions to the pack, our CEO Rich said, "We're all delighted to be working with such a great client as Wilko. Many of the team have fond memories of kitting their student homes out with Wilko products during their times at university. Now we can help other students recognize the convenience and value of Wilko for themselves!"
Not only do we have Wilko joining the party, but we have added even more deals to the pack! Students will soon be able to enjoy a whopping 40% off their gym threads from our friends at Distancewear. Once the Well-being section is released, all you have to do is follow the link, enter the promo code once you select your garms and before you know it you'll be looking super-stylish whilst you sweat it out!
Prefer corduroy to cardio? Fear not, as we have also teamed up with Atlas Vintage to offer yet another discount on their entire range online. Again, just follow the link and enter the promo code at checkout to make a tidy saving.
Good morning from Paperclip HQ! We come to you on this glorious Friday with an exciting new offer from our friends at Perlego...
Tell me more...
Last month, we unveiled our new Digital Welcome Pack for freshers and returning students. With this year's Fresher's Fairs facing an uncertain future due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the team began work on a virtual alternative for students ready the start of the new academic year.
We think there's no reason that students in the UK shouldn't be able to take advantage of the fabulous deals and discounts they come to expect from in-person Freshers' Fairs. Our mission is to bring students as much value as possible, without them having to spend time a crowded indoor venue.
The team at HQ have spent the summer months shortlisting a set of deals for students to enjoy whether their going out, staying in or just looking to save some cash on their uni essentials. Last month, we reached out to leading online textbook provider Perlego to see if they'd like to run a promotion to help students during this difficult time, they duly obliged...
So what's the deal?
We all know how expensive uni textbooks can be, especially considering that after exam day, chances are they won't ever be read again. This is where Perlego comes in...
Perlego offers a unique e-reader experience for both desktop and mobile. For a small subscription fee, Perlego allows you to access hundreds of thousands of books whether you're at home, at uni or on the move. Perlego even allows you to annotate and takes notes in the margins!
Now, everyone who signs up to the Welcome Pack will receive a 14 day trial of Perlego completely free of charge. Anyone who receives a pack will be provided with a link that takes you the trial page. Quickly fill out the form and you can begin reading instantly. Oh, and don't worry, you wont be charged unexpectedly - you can cancel anytime and Perlego will even send you an email reminding you when your trial is about to end.
The beginning of something special...
Speaking on the new partnership, Paperclip CMO Laurence said "It's great to have Perlego in the new Welcome Pack. Both ourselves and the team at Perlego share similar values; we both want to make sure students have all they need for university, without them having to spend a fortune. Working with such an innovative company has been a joy and we are thrilled to be offering this great deal to students across the country."
Perlego CEO Gauthier Van Malderen added: “During these challenging times for education, we are working hard to ensure students are provided with the necessary resources to effectively continue their studies. Our partnership with Paperclip will offer a new audience of students easier, direct access to the range of resources available on Perlego, and we are excited to be working alongside them to provide students with a unique and new solution to save cash while accessing their books from anywhere."
Paperclip and Perlego will be working together on exciting promotions for our student users throughout the 2020/21 and beyond, so stay tuned for more info...
Good afternoon to all our readers, followers and marketplace users. We hope you're all keeping well and staying safe during these difficult times.
With the current uncertainty surrounding the resumption of teaching at HE institutions in the UK, a number of universities are moving towards distance learning for the next semester. Other unis have already committed to delivering the entire 2020/21 academic year online. With this in mind, the chances of Fresher's Fairs running at full capacity (if at all), are pretty slim.
Saving Freshers' 2020
It's no secret that Fresher's Fairs are notoriously busy and chaotic events; with dozens of societies, clubs and promoters eager to impress on the biggest day on the Students' Union calendar. Sadly, running such events is just not compatible with the current social distancing guidelines.
Fear not, however, as the team at HQ have come up with a plan to make sure students starting uni in September wont miss out on the deals, discounts and freebies they have come to expect from their Freshers' Fair.
The team have spent the last month putting together a free Digital Welcome Pack for all students in the UK...
So, what's inside?
After weeks of shortlisting and contacting different brands popular with students, we settled on 30x deals, discounts and freebies to distribute. Students will be able enjoy a free six month trial of Amazon Prime as well as tasty discount on their takeaways when using UberEats.
Those who sign up to the Welcome Pack will also receive a discount code for their first trip with Ola cabs in addition to 27x other goodies that'll be revealed throughout the summer.
How do I claim my pack?
All you need to do is head to yourfreshers.co.uk and add your name, uni, year of study and email address. Not got your uni email account yet? No problem, you can use any personal email to sign up.
Packs will be sent out via email on the 20th August 2020.
Can't wait that long?
If you refer a friend, you will get early access to the Welcome Pack and the chance to win a £50 Paperclip voucher valid on all of our marketplaces.
Refer 3 to be entered our £200 uni essentials competition or 10 to be in with the chance of winning £500 in cold, hard cash.
That's not all, join the 'Paperclip 100 club' with 100 referrals and we will send you a £25 Amazon voucher to spend on anything you want!
Read more...
Last week, we gave our friends at the Bee Money Savvy a sneak peak of the new pack. You can check out their Guide to Freshers' here. We will be dropping hints as to what deals to expect in the Welcome Pack over the next few months, so stay tuned for more...
Be sure to follow us on Twitter for more updates about the Digital Welcome Pack and everything else Paperclip.
The Paperclip squad are back with another competition for all of our university marketplace users.
We're giving you the chance to win a Home Gym Bundle worth £250!
We're offering one lucky winner five sweet items to help you get that beach bod just in time for summer...
So, what's included?
Over the last few weeks, we have quietly been adding a number of items to our university marketplaces as we try to gauge what our users really wanted during lockdown.
These resistance bands were our most popular item in April
We found that home exercise equipment was the most popular category with our health-conscious student users keen to keep trim throughout quarantine. We picked four of our most popular home gym items and a little something to keep you moving and grooving!
Entry to the competition is free and open to all of our UK-based student marketplace users.
The lucky winner will receive: a 9-in-1 push-up board, an ab roller wheel, a full set of resistance band and a yoga mat!
Not only that, but have decided to throw in a wireless Bluetooth speaker too!
This JBL speaker is included too!
Our runner-up prize will win a £25 Amazon voucher, a set of wireless earphones and some of our branded merchandise.
All items will be delivered straight to your door, completely free of charge!
We will be contacting the winner via. email on Wednesday 17th June at 2pm. T&Cs apply.
How do I enter?
It's super simple and only takes 30 second to enter...
All you need to do is:
1.) Sign up or login to your university marketplace
2.) Head to the 'Win a Home Gym Bundle' item in Featured Items section
3.) Make an offer of any amount
4.) Cross your fingers...
Move fast - entries close on Friday 12th June 2020 at 5pm.
In other news...
No matter if you're a winner or not, you can still find everything you need to make the most of the new unlimited outdoor exercise guidelines on your campus marketplace.
The Paperclip team have added a whole host of new items, all heavily discounted and all with free home delivery. Find everything from tennis rackets and rounders sets to giant Jenga sets so you and your quarantine buddies can have fun in the sun!
We're adding new items every week so be sure to check back into your uni marketplace regularly.
Stay safe out there and good luck to everyone entering our home gym giveaway competition!
Ts&Cs for Home Gym Giveaway: No purchase necessary. Only one competition entry per person. Over 18s only. We will not share your details with any third party.
We're all looking for constructive ways to spend our time during lockdown. This is why Paperclip has teamed up with two leading online learning platforms to offer our users a number of free online courses throughout April and May.
Many of our users have been wanting to use this period as an opportunity to find a new hobby or learn a new skill, and we're here to help...
What's new?
We've recently linked up with the online learning community Skillshare. The site offers thousands of courses focused on interaction rather than lecturing, with the primary goal of learning by completing a project. Skillshare has a diverse portfolio of courses including the creative arts, design, entrepreneurship, lifestyle and technology with many more subtopics to explore.
From this week and throughout the month of May, our users can enjoy two whole weeks of Skillshare absolutely free! Whether you want to improve your photography skills or have a go at some creative writing - you can do so without having to pay a penny.
Not only that, we have added another set of courses from online learning platform Highbrow. Take advantage of the free trial and the team at Highbrow will send you short, five-minute email lessons to help you learn anything from art and philosophy, to business and personal development.
Lessons are delivered one-at-a-time over a ten day period. These are followed by fun, knowledge-testing quizzes at the end of each course. With over 300 courses available for you right now, there really is something for everyone.
How to get started...
Our university marketplace users can find direct links to their free courses on the Deals and Discounts section of their respective marketplace's homepage. Just login on your phone or laptop and click the icon to get going.
We hope all of our users are staying safe and well during lockdown. Click here for our COVID-19 service update.
Before we begin, here's a quick service notice regarding the current COVID-19 outbreak:
The Paperclip global marketplace and all Paperclip student & enterprise marketplaces will remain open and available to all our users throughout this period
We strongly encourage you to order any items purchased for home delivery, rather than meeting sellers face-to-face as to limit the risk of transmission of COVID-19
In May, we will be launching a payment gateway which should further reduce the number of physical exchanges of items
Any offers claimed through the 'Deals & Discounts' section will still be valid unless otherwise stated in the offer's terms and conditions
Though we do not anticipate any disruption to services, we will notify you of any updates via. our official Twitter page.
Trending now on Paperclip...
This week, we thought we'd take a look at the items most searched on our platforms as we head into this period of self-isolation...
Puzzles
With so many of us stuck at home with time on our hands, it appears that even formerly puzzle-averse people are discovering the hours-killing appeal of jigsaws!
Retro The Beatles jigsaw puzzle recently sold in Blackpool, UK
In the UK, toy manufacturers are reporting 'huge increases in demand' for the traditional hobby since the Government urged the country to adopt self-isolation measures amid the coronavirus outbreak. In the United States, The Washington Post has described 'unprecedented interest' in the product, with both online retailers and brick-and-mortar stores now struggling to keep up with demand.
It's no surprise really that shoppers are now turning to second-hand marketplaces for their puzzle-fix. Since February, Paperclip has seen an almost 300% increase in searches for jigsaw puzzles with trades taking place all over the country.
Home exercise equipment
Though it looks like we will be stuck at home for the foreseeable, it's still important for us to keep moving! There's plenty we can still do keep active within our four walls and a load of items on our marketplaces to help you do so...
Set of weights for sale in Leicester, UK
Since the start of the month, we have seen a huge rise in searches for equipment for keeping fit during a lockdown. Searches for 'exercise bikes', 'dumbells' and 'yoga mats' have doubled throughout the first two weeks of March and continue to rise...
Bicycles
Another big mover in the Sports & Outdoors category! Bikes tend to be popular on our university marketplaces year round, but over the last three weeks we have seen searches for this product increase over 50% on our open marketplace.
Pendleton Brooke bike for sale in Fife, UK
It's quite common for us to see a greater demand for bikes when the weather warms up, but with all that's going on in the world right now, cycling is increasingly seen as a way to get out and stay active whilst practising social distancing.
We have hundreds of mountain bikes, road bikes, kids bikes and all the parts and accessories on our open marketplace - many with huge reductions from their RRP.
We also have a number of popular bike groups on our platform, here you can list and request items for sale and chat to your local trading community.
Hand sanitizer
No surprises here! With hand sanitizer stocks stripped from shelves in early-March, shoppers are turning to trusted online marketplaces.
Hand sanitizer gel for sale in Drogheda, Ireland
Perhaps the most in-demand item in the world right now, the sky-rocketing demand for hand sanitizer gel has manufacturers working overtime.
Once abundant in chemists, supermarkets and corner shops - these small bottles of gel have proved elusive to most high street shoppers.
In the past few weeks, both distilleries and perfume factories in the UK and mainland Europe produce thousands of units for healthcare providers as well as the general public.
Since the start of the year, we have seen a ten-fold increase in searches for hand sanitizer and hundreds of users listing the product for sale. With prices as low as £1.00 per 30ml bottle, there are still bargains to be had!
More to come...
Over the next few weeks we be rolling out some exciting new features to both our open and university platforms as well as launching a brand new enterprise marketplace. Be sure to check back to the Paperclip blog for more info...
