Let's talk Marketplace

For brands looking to sell in Germany, it quickly becomes clear that this market follows its own rules, surprising even experienced cross-border sellers – for example, because of the strong dominance of Amazon. In this episode, Ingrid and Valerie explore the question of what really drives German buyers, how they behave in marketplaces, and what that means for brands planning to enter the market. Dex van Hofwegen, Director of Sales & Customer Success at Dutch marketplace integrator ChannelEngine, is also joining us. Dex not only knows what questions international customers have when entering the German market, but also shares exciting insights from a cross-border study on consumer behavior in marketplaces in Europe. Note from the sponsor Kaufland Global Marketplace:Do you want to meet Ingrid and Valerie live again? Then come to the e-Commerce Day of the partner Kaufland Global Marketplace on April 11th in Cologne! More than inspiring 30 lectures on 3 stages await you, for example from Philip Lahm and Michael Menzel from Google. Plus more than 100 exhibitors for everything that is important for the marketplace business and the new format "Speed Connect". With the exclusive promotion code MARKETPLACE-ECD-30, you get 30% off your ticket. So register right away at ecommerceday.de/tickets. Chapters01:53 Understanding the German Market06:07 Consumer Behavior Insights11:56 Marketplace Preferences and Trends18:05 Challenges for International Brands29:56 The future role of Temu, Shein and Tiktok Shop in Germany

It is THE topic that has kept the industry in suspense in recent weeks: the launch of TikTok Shop in Europe. Valerie and Ingrid take a critical look at this in the new newsflash episode of “Let's talk Marketplace”. Because despite the hype, TikTok Shop is not suitable for every brand, every retailer, and every product. They also discuss Shein's rapid growth beyond fashion, the annual results of eBay, Allegro and B&B, and the expansion of Autodoc, MediaMarktSaturn and Amazon Haul. And they talk about Ingrid's and Valerie's new passion project: the marketplace community for brand managers in the fashion, sports & shoes category, launching in June, and hardlines, launching in October.Note from the sponsor Kaufland Global Marketplace:Shipping, returns processing, tax regulations and one-stop shop procedures: the challenges of internationalization are a major concern for many retailers. Service providers such as exporto can help here: exporto specializes in cross-border e-commerce logistics in Europe. You can find out more in the webinar “Selling to post-Brexit UK” on April 8 at 11 a.m., in which Vanessa Schmidt from exporto and Ingrid will take a detailed look at the challenges of cross-border trade with the United Kingdom. Click here to register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_264R7k0nQd6t6hnyapQEeA#/registration Note from the sponsor Kaufland Global Marketplace:Do you want to meet Ingrid and Valerie live again? Then come to the e-Commerce Day of the partner Kaufland Global Marketplace on April 11th in Cologne! More than inspiring 30 lectures on 3 stages await you, for example from Philip Lahm and Michael Menzel from Google. Plus more than 100 exhibitors for everything that is important for the marketplace business and the new format "Speed Connect". With the exclusive promotion code MARKETPLACE-ECD-30, you get 30% off your ticket. So register right away at ecommerceday.de/tickets. Chapters00:00 March Marketplace Highlights04:21 TikTok Shop Launch and Reactions07:27 Marketplace Figures and Trends11:12 Marketplace Launches and Expansions13:01 Shein's Marketplace Evolution19:39 Vinted's Expanding Categories26:59 Looking Ahead to April

Ed Sander, ein China-Experte für digitales Marketing und E-Commerce, beleuchtet die Schwierigkeiten des TikTok Shops in den westlichen Märkten. Trotz großer Erwartungen bleibt der Erfolg aus, da kulturelle und infrastrukturelle Unterschiede das Wachstum behindern. Er diskutiert, warum TikTok zögerlich bei der Einführung in Europa agiert und teilt spannende Einblicke in die chinesischen E-Commerce-Strategien. Sander erklärt, wie sich Shopping-Verhalten zwischen China und dem Westen unterscheidet und analysiert die Herausforderungen, die TikTok bevorstehen.

Sometimes, the question of why someone tells a story in exactly that way is more exciting than the story itself! A good example of this is Zalando: the 2024 annual report and the associated statements are really interesting – especially what Zalando emphasizes and what is no longer mentioned. In this podcast episode, Ingrid and Valerie do just that: they analyze what the numbers really reveal and what it means for brands and marketplace partners – for example, the barely growing marketplace share or the emphasis on independence from About You for the next three years.Note from the sponsor bol:Bol is a leading marketplace in the Netherlands and Belgium, offering over 42 million products in 28 categories to more than 13 million customers. Its focus on customer satisfaction and innovation has made it the regional market leader. The platform attracts retailers from neighboring countries by offering personalized support and local consumer insights. Retailers can benefit from bol's logistics service, returns management, and retail media options. Curious to learn more? Tune in to podcast episode 97 to hear Alex Ciorapciu, Director of International Business, discuss selling on bol. Note from the sponsor Kaufland Global Marketplace:Do you want to meet Ingrid and Valerie live again? Then come to the e-Commerce Day of the partner Kaufland Global Marketplace on April 11th in Cologne! More than inspiring 30 lectures on 3 stages await you, for example from Philip Lahm and Michael Menzel from Google. Plus more than 100 exhibitors for everything that is important for the marketplace business and the new format "Speed Connect". With the exclusive promotion code MARKETPLACE-ECD-30, you get 30% off your ticket. So register right away at ecommerceday.de/tickets. Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Zalando's Financial Results05:59 Understanding Zalando's Narrative and Market Position11:58 Zalando's Revenue Growth and Brand Strategy14:59 Marketplace Share and Brand Approval Challenges18:00 International Expansion and New Market Opportunities20:58 The Impact of the About You Merger30:05 Brand Perspectives on the Merger36:56 Zalando's ZEOS and B2B Growth Analysis

What does bol have that Amazon doesn't? Or to put it another way: Why is bol so far ahead in the Netherlands? Ingrid and Valerie explore this question in the new episode together with Thomas Philip-Bashar, Product Manager at the Dutch solution provider Channable. They discuss how bol has benefited from the fact that large players like Amazon have long ignored the small country, but that the Netherlands, with an internet penetration rate of 95%, is a very well-developed market. They discuss the role of logistics in defending the market position after Amazon entered the market in 2020. And they delve into the similarities and differences in the advertising options for both platforms. Thomas also expects a new advertising format at bol in the second half of the year.Note to the sponsor MediaMarktSaturn:With a turnover of 22.4 billion euros, MediaMarktSaturn is one of Europe's leading consumer electronics retailers. Since launching its marketplace in Germany in 2020, the company has been pursuing an international strategy and is now represented in Spain, Austria, Italy, and the Netherlands – and has also recently launched in Belgium. Poland will follow this year. The range includes around 2 million products in categories such as IT, TV, household, gaming and more. With additional services such as easy marketplace integration and individual support, MediaMarktSaturn makes it easier for its approximately 1600 retailers to do business on the marketplace. And if you want to know more, take a look at our detailed marketplace portrait of MediaMarktSaturn. https://marketplace-universe.com/marketplace-portrait-mediamarktsaturn/ Chapters:00:00 Introduction to the Deep Dive Episode06:29 Exploring the Dutch Marketplace Landscape12:40 The Role of bol in the Dutch Market18:54 Amazon's Impact and Strategy in the Netherlands24:49 Advertising Strategies: bol vs. Amazon30:35 Future of Marketplaces in the Netherlands

A fresh spring wind is blowing through the “Let's talk Marketplace” podcast! For the second season, Ingrid and Valerie have slightly changed the podcast concept: there is now a dedicated news episode once a month – so there is finally enough time to dive deeper into the most relevant news of the last few weeks. This episode is the first pure newsflash episode dealing with the most breaking marketplace news in February: Ingrid and Valerie - have looked extensively at the background to the launch of TikTok Shop in Germany, France and Italy - discussed the consequences of the new US customs policy – both for the US market and for European markets. - They also analyzed Amazon's 2024 figures - and examined the reasons for the end of the sports marketplace Colizey.Note on our upcoming webinar:Do you want to expand your marketplace business but don't know which marketplaces are worthwhile for you? Then take part in the webinar “Mastering Marketplaces: Strategies to choose your ideal Platform” on March 18 at 11 a.m. Online and for free, you will receive an indispensable guide to successful B2C marketplace expansion from marketplace experts Johannes Blindhuber from PlentyONE and Valerie Dichtl, offering actionable insights and a checklist for optimizing your strategy. The webinar, which will be held in English, is aimed at brands and companies in the consumer electronics, home & living, DIY, sports and toys sectors. Register here: https://marketplace-universe.com/events/webinars/webinar-plentyone/Note from the sponsor exporto:Cross-border e-commerce is booming. However, international expansion still involves complex logistical and customs challenges for many companies. Service providers such as exporto, which specializes in cross-border e-commerce logistics in Europe, are there to help. With powerful technology and a strong partner network, exporto ensures that online retailers can ship their goods internationally just as smoothly as in their home market. The plug-and-play solutions cover everything from automated customs clearance and tax processing to local delivery over the last mile. More than 200 brands, including Mr. Speck's, Outfittery and Snox, already rely on exporto's all-in-one solution to drive their international growth. Find out more at exporto.de https://www.exporto.deChapters00:00 Introduction to Season Two02:47 Changes in Podcast Format06:01 TikTok Shop Expansion in Europe09:06 US and EU Responses to Chinese E-Commerce12:00 Impact of US Tariffs on Marketplace Sellers15:08 Amazon's Financial Results and Marketplace Insights17:04 Analyzing Amazon's Sales Performance24:45 The Shift Towards Refurbished and Circular Economy28:01 The Closure of Colizey and Market Challenges31:39 Reflections on Market Trends and Future Insights

Ingrid and Valerie are proud to present: the 100th episode of the “Let's talk Marketplace” podcast! And that's why, in this episode, Ingrid and Valerie looked back on what they have achieved and revealed their visions for this year (spoiler: a real community for the marketplace people in Europe). They looked back on their biggest failures and their favorite guests. They talked about the importance of gut feeling, about trust and their “No Bullshuit Policy”. And they looked at the rapid pace at which they have been on the road with our Marketplace Universe for about a year. With episode 100, the second season of “Let's talk Marketplace” begins with some innovations, such as our own news episodes. Enjoy the anniversary episode and thank you so much for your loyalty!Note from the sponsor Channable:If you’re selling on Amazon or bol, you know that running ad campaigns can be complex - but also highly rewarding. Both platforms offer similar campaign structures, but there’s a key difference: On Amazon, a product can appear in both sponsored and organic search results. On bol, once you win the sponsored spot, you lose your organic ranking. Automation can make campaign management much easier. With tools like Channable, you can scale campaigns for a wide range of products, automate keyword selection, and optimize bidding strategies. If you would like to know more about the differences on ad campaigns an bol and Amazon, read our how-to article at Marketplace-Universe.comor listen to episode 102 in mid-March with Thomas Philip-Bashar, Product Manager at Channable, as guest.Note on our upcoming webinar:If you're selling on marketplaces, you've probably asked yourself already, how will shoppers buy in in 2025? Where does the journey begin, the shopping journey, what factors influence the decisions? The questions are the topic in the webinar „How marketplace shoppers buy in 2025: key insights“ together with ChannelEngine.When: March, 6th, 4 p.m.Who: Jorrit Steintz, CEO and Founder ChannelEngine, and Valerie Dichtl, Marketplace UniverseWhere: online and for freeRegister now here!https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0gnXPM0 Chapters:00:00 Celebrating 100 episodes: A Milestone in Podcasting02:53 Reflections on Podcasting Journey and Learnings06:00 Favorite Guests and Memorable Moments08:30 Podcasting Challenges and Lessons Learned13:55 Transitioning to Season Two: New Structure and Focus17:20 Transitioning to Marketplace Universe24:46 Monetization Strategies and No Bullshit Policy29:00 Looking Ahead: Future Plans and Community Focus35:00 A heartfelt Thank You

For brands, it could become the crucial question: should they ride the (successful) wave of Temu or should they ostracize the nasty low-cost competition? Some have already taken the plunge, some with the help of Valentin Hauß, CEO of the German marketplace agency com-create, which specializes in technological connections to platforms like Temu. This gives Valentin a direct line to Temu and valuable insights. In the podcast, he talks about how hard Temu is trying to work with European brands and retailers, that Temu seems willing to change its pricing policy, and that the cheap image is to be shed. He also talks about the very different strategies brands are using to react to the pricing pressure on Temu, which categories he considers worthwhile, and why Temu sometimes pays its sellers more for a product than the online shopper on the platform.Note from our sponsor bol:Bol is a leading marketplace in the Netherlands and Belgium, offering over 42 million products in 28 categories to more than 13 million customers. Its focus on customer satisfaction and innovation has made it the regional market leader. The platform attracts retailers from neighboring countries by offering personalized support and local consumer insights. Retailers can benefit from bol's logistics service, returns management, and retail media options.A special promotion is available until February 28th: retailers receive a 50% discount on account creation fees and variable commissions through integrators like ChannelEngine, Rithum, Tradebyte, or Channable, valid until June 30th, 2025. Curious to learn more? Tune into podcast episode 97 next week to hear Alex Ciorapciu, Director of International Business, discuss selling on bol. Note on our upcoming webinar:If you're selling on marketplaces, you've probably asked yourself already, how will shoppers buy in in 2025? Where does the journey begin, the shopping journey, what factors influence the decisions? The questions are the topic in the webinar „How marketplace shoppers buy in 2025: key insights“ together with ChannelEngine.When: March, 6th, 4 p.m.Who: Jorrit Steintz, CEO and Founder ChannelEngine, and Valerie Dichtl, Marketplace UniverseWhere: online and for freeRegister now here:https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0gnXPM0Newsflash:-        Amazon is experimenting with re-directing search queries to brands' webshops outside of its own app. -        Amazon opened its first brick-and-mortal pharmacy and beauty store in Milan, Italy.-        MediaMarktSaturn plans to increase the Space-as-a-Service concept which enables wholesale and marketplace retail partners to rent space in the brick and mortal store of the retail chain to present their products.-        The French sports marketplace Colizey has ceased trading.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Temu Marketplace02:08 Valentin Hauß: Insights from com-create05:54 Newsflash12:00 Omni-Channel Strategies in Retail17:22 Deep Dive into Selling on Temu22:10 Building Collaborative Relationships with Temu23:56 Seller Requirements and Integration on Temu26:24 Understanding Temu's Pricing System31:01 Strategies for Brands on Temu33:49 Evaluating Product Performance on Temu

LTM 98: How to manage the cashflow of your marketplace business feat. StorfundWhat is often preventing marketplace sellers from growing? A lack of liquid funds, because a lot of money is either tied up in inventory or sits with the marketplace operator for weeks before it is paid out to the seller. That's why Ingrid and Valerie are dedicating this episode to the topic of financing and managing working capital. They are joined by Ann-Kristin Lipsky, who sells various of her own brands on marketplaces, and Joep Backx, Director of Sales at Storfund.Storfund has developed a concept to help sellers out of financial bottlenecks. In the podcast, they speak very openly about emergencies and the lack of support from banks. And Ann-Kristin explains how a competitor used a minor violation of terms of service to take her out of the race in Europe for months.Note from the sponsor MediaMarktSaturn:With a turnover of 22.4 billion euros, MediaMarktSaturn is one of Europe's leading consumer electronics retailers. Since launching its marketplace in Germany in 2020, the company has been pursuing an international strategy and is now represented in Spain, Austria, Italy, and the Netherlands. Belgium and Poland will follow in 2025. The range includes around 2 million products in categories such as IT, TV, household, gaming and more. With additional services such as easy marketplace integration and individual support, MediaMarktSaturn makes it easier for its approximately 1600 retailers to do business on the marketplace. And if you want to know more, take a lookat the detailed marketplace portrait of MediaMarktSaturn. Newsflash:Amazon had a good, if not exceptional, result for 2024It is said that Temu requires local European distributors to price 15% lower than Amazon. Chapters12:08 Marketplace Strategies and Expansion Plans13:45 Understanding StoreFund's Role in Financing18:02 Newsflash28:02 The Importance of Financing for Growth30:08 Understanding Product Portfolios and Market Risks32:01 The Struggles of Female Entrepreneurs in Funding36:27 Innovative Financing Solutions for E-commerce42:14 The Cost of Financing and Its Impact on Growth46:32 Expanding to New Marketplaces

If you want to sell in the Netherlands via marketplaces, you can't get past the top dog bol. While the market leader used to have a reputation for being very restrictive in its selection of sellers, the platform is now opening up to international sellers. Alex Ciorapciu, Director International Business at bol, reveals in this episode what foreign merchants can expect at bol: AI tools that help with translating product information, and bol's own logistics that ensure competitive delivery times for the demanding Dutch customer base. And customer service can now be provided in English instead of only in Dutch. bol's stated goal is to maintain long-term, good, and profitable relationships with its sales partners so that they can benefit from the Dutch market in the best possible way. To this end, bol currently has a special offer up its sleeve: anyone who sets up a bol account via one of the integrators Channable, ChannelEngine, Tradebyte or Rithum by the end of February will receive a 50% discount on the setup fee and a 50% discount on the variable sales commission until the end of June. The point of contact is Alex Ciorapciu.Note on our next Marketplace Universe Connect Event:Are you a brand, manufacturer or e-commerce head of? From the areas of DIY, home & living, sports, CE or similar? Then mark February 18 in your calendar and register now for the “Marketplace Universe Connect x plentyone Berlin Edition”! What do you get? Direct exchange, valuable contacts, drinks & food in a relaxed atmosphere in a cool location and short presentations by Katrin Wießner, marketplace manager at Jack Wolfskin, and Malte Karstan, marketplace expert at Berlin Brands Group. But be aware: Not everyone who registers will automatically be accepted – we carefully review each registration to ensure an optimal experience for all guests. You want to be there? Then sign up here! https://webforms.pipedrive.com/f/1AEq12z4w3UgrhelE8SJfg1wbYkSpXaynZBndKVazpjhMqXKOLqYtToZNrgc3bWfh?Note from the sponsor Channable:Do you know the e-commerce solution provider Channable? Channable offers a solution that can map trade on more than 2,500 platforms - including marketplaces, of course. Products can be managed, promoted, sold and analyzed across channels and teams. This means that the marketplace team, the e-commerce team, the social media team, performance marketing, all work with the same software. The solution focuses on automation. In addition, integrations are available for common shop systems such as Shopify, WooCommerce or Lightspeed. And: Channable is one of the bol integrators, so you can get your 50% discount through us. Find out more at https://www.channable.com/Chapters:00:00 Introduction to bol Marketplace07:01 Alex Ciorapciu's Journey in E-Commerce11:58 The Significance of bol in Dutch Culture20:01 AI and Technology in bol's Operations29:29 Selection of new partners40:09 Challenges for International Sellers on bol43:59 Cooperation with the bol team