The importance of being in the relevant B2C marketplaces

Each one of us is able to name a few B2C marketplaces and we probably have already tried some to buy our favourite products. But do we know how they can be at the service of our businesses and our brands?

If your response is YES, let's move into the next question.

Maybe this one is more difficult to answer. So, we have gathered some categories to help you with the analysis.

To start with an easy example, some marketplaces are of a more global reach of scope, meaning they present several distinctive groups of products, such as clothing, shoes, DVD, electronics, books or DIY, such as Amazon. Some other marketplaces are more restrictive in terms of categories of products, and are for example focused on Fashion, such as Zalando or Macy's. And some others are positioned in specific fashion segments, such as footwear (eobuwie or Zappos are examples of that).

However, is not only the scope of the marketplaces. Another categorisation you must pay attention is the one referring to the price tag of the products placed in the platform. As the different products have different prices, it is important to understand which platforms are more relevant for the kind of products we are trading. And then can go from Low price to Luxury. ebay is clearly a platform where we can easily find less expensive products, while Farfetch is a platform for trading luxury brands. Are you familiar with this?

So, before choosing a B2C platform, analyse it deeply, get in contact with them, ask about visitors and retention rates, and ask for a demonstration. Try to understand if the platform is focused on specific products, in terms of price range or end usage, or if they have a specific geographic presence. And of course, read the next pages as a starting point.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary
Framework
What is a B2C Marketplace?
Different types of B2C platforms
Advantages of the presence in a B2C Marketplaces
How can the presence in a B2C Marketplace improve a company's performance?
Aspects and characteristics to consider when entering a B2C Marketplace
How do I choose the right platform for my business?
How can B2C Marketplaces evolve in the future?
List of B2C Marketplaces
Detailed analysis of selected B2C Marketplaces
Key takeaways