In the world of e-commerce, marketplaces have become an indispensable part of the online retail landscape, and their impact is becoming increasingly visible. An online marketplace is an e-commerce platform where sellers come together to sell their products to a wider audience.

Three Different Types of Marketplaces

We distinguish three different types of online marketplaces. The difference arises from the type of product or service.

1. Vertical Marketplaces: Products in a specific area or niche. For example, The Next Closet, where you find only second-hand designer clothing.
2. Horizontal Marketplaces: Various brands/products or services that are related. For example, booking.com.
3. All-in-One Marketplaces: Various types of products or services. A perfect example of this is bol.com, where you can find a wide assortment and almost every product.

Why Start Selling on Marketplaces Today?

There are several benefits for businesses to sell on marketplaces, such as:

1. Wider Reach: Marketplaces often have a large and diverse customer base, allowing businesses to offer their products to a broader audience than selling through their own website alone.
2. Lower Marketing Costs: Marketplaces often do their own marketing to attract customers to their platform, reducing the need for sellers to spend money on marketing.
3. No Technical Skills Required: Setting up and maintaining your own e-commerce website can require technical skills and resources. By selling on a marketplace, businesses can avoid this and focus on optimizing their presence on the platform.
4. Reliable Transactions: Marketplaces often handle the payment process and shipping of products, reducing the risk of fraudulent activities or failed transactions.
5. Cost-Effective: Marketplaces usually charge only a commission on each sale, making the costs of selling products significantly lower than running a full e-commerce business.
6. Access to New Markets: Selling on marketplaces allows businesses to easily access new markets and reach international customers without investing much time and money in expanding their own e-commerce infrastructure.

In summary, selling on marketplaces can be an effective way for businesses to increase their reach, reduce costs, and access new markets.

The two most well-known marketplaces in the Netherlands are bol.com and Amazon. Additionally, there are many other local marketplaces, which we refer to as local heroes.

Amazon as an International Giant

Amazon is one of the largest multinational technology companies in the world. Founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994, it started as an online bookstore. Today, it has expanded to offer a wide range of products, including electronics, clothing, household items, and more. Both directly to consumers and through third-party sellers on the platform.

In addition to online retail, Amazon offers a variety of services, such as cloud computing via Amazon Web Services (AWS), streaming video and music via Amazon Prime, and smart home devices via Amazon Alexa. Amazon has also expanded into physical retail with the acquisition of Whole Foods Market, a chain of supermarkets.

Local Heroes | Act Global, Sell Local

Also known as the well-known unknown marketplaces. Each country has its own local marketplaces where you as a seller can start selling.