7 Online Marketplaces you Shouldn’t Ignore
When it comes to global expansion, especially for an online or ecommerce business, it can be tempting to dive straight in with the big dogs – Amazon and eBay.
Boasting a global customer base, a huge marketing opportunity, and a varied and diverse collection of industries, sectors, and customers, these platforms really are the big players in the world of marketplace retail. But if you’re familiar with the phrase “don’t put all your eggs in one basket”, then you won’t be surprised to hear that one of the biggest recommendations we share with entrepreneurs is to think outside the box.
The fact is, Europe is a big place that encompasses 50 different countries – and with an expected ecommerce market revenue of $363 billion, the opportunity is huge. Do you really think all that is happening on just two marketplace platforms?
Without further ado, here are 7 online marketplaces that you should pay attention to when it comes to expanding your business overseas to Europe and the UK.
Fruugo
A UK-based marketplace which is available across 32 countries, supports 22 currencies, operates across 17 different languages, and has over 25 million active users. With a single registration you receive access to all markets that Fruugo manages, with the no-sale-no-fee contract making it a popular option with both experienced and first-time sellers.
Allegro
The fifth most visited online marketplace in Europe, Allegro is based in Poland and presents an ideal platform for sellers to launch in Poland’s 10 billion euro ecommerce market.
Cdiscount
This one may sound like a platform for cheap deals, but when it comes to the seller experience it couldn’t be better – presenting access to just under 9 million active users, with 19 million unique visitors finding themselves browsing the site every month.
With 40 different seller categories and an expanding operational base which is swiftly moving away from its French-exclusive market and encompassing Belgium, Germany, Italy, and Spain, this marketplace is growing at a fast rate. What better way to grow your own international ecommerce presence than with a marketplace which is, itself, expanding?
OnBuy
With a similar operational model to eBay, OnBuy allows sellers to list new, used, and refurbished products for its buyers – with the secure PayPal payment giving both buyers and sellers optimum user protection.
Reasonable fees for sellers and immediate payment make this a popular option for both new and experienced sellers.
PriceMinister
A leading French marketplace solution with 22 million members and 9 million active monthly visitors, this ecommerce solution has been growing at a steady rate since 2010 – operating in 20 countries and processing more than 30,000 transactions per day.
This marketplace is not one to miss – and is second only to Amazon when it comes to French ecommerce activity.
Zalando
A German marketplace which is operational across multiple European countries, Zalando has achieved 95% brand recognition in the German market across adult shoppers and is steadily growing both its online and physical presence in other countries – with fulfilment centres now open in Sweden and Belgium.
OTTO
The second biggest online retail marketplace in Germany, OTTO was once an offline brand but moved online to support its own growth and expand its offer to also allow third party sellers (like you) to market and sell their wares through the platform.
Safe to say, with so many options out there, doing your research and getting to know the best local marketplaces in your chosen destination can be invaluable for the growth of your business.