There’s more to online marketplaces than eBay and Amazon
Online marketplaces were once, and to a degree still are, dominated by early players such as Amazon and eBay. But there are alternative options; smaller sites can be just as effective at reaching new audiences and generating extra sales.
Recent reports from Amazon HQ claim that a third of the marketplace behemoth’s total sales come from third party sellers. That’s with total revenues at Amazon are an estimated $51bn. Sellers on the platform are cashing-in – and so it is with Amazon’s rivals.
Here’s our pick of the bunch:
1. Play.com
Founded in 1998, Jersey-based Play.com has been selling a range of good such as CDs, DVDs, electronic hardware to UK residents specifically for some time and was once seen as a competitor to Amazon in that space. Along side its own retail arm, Play.com has been oporating as an online marketplace and the range has grown to include clothes, gadgets and outdoor equipment.
Recently however, because of changes to VAT, it has decided to close its retail arm and concentrate entirely on being a marketplace.
2. Pixmania
Pixmania was founded in 2000 and sells throughout Europe – active in 26 countries. Although mainly oporating online it also has brick-and-mortar stores across Europe. It sells everything from baby products to consumer electronics. PIXPlace is its online marketplace which lets you sell your goods.
Pixmania is majority owned by The Dixon Retail Group – it acquired 77% back in 2000 and a further 22% in August 2012 taking its ownership to 99%.
3. Etsy
Etsy is for for the craftier of retailers. Established in 2005, it focuses on handmade and vintage products from cakes to cardigans. It takes its inspiration from craft fairs and allows sellers to create individual “shop fronts” where they can list their goods.
Based in Brooklyn, it’s huge in the States but has had a big push into the UK over the past year and enjoys some 2 million monthly uniques in the UK.
4. ASOS
The UK’s champion ecommerce fashion site ASOS wouldn’t be left behind when it comes to the marketplace. It launched its version in 2010 inviting independent clothes and accessory retailers to list on the site.
The site offers advice to sellers, an account manager and like Etsy, the ability to create a shop front.
5. Fruugo
Finnish start-up Fruugo is an online marketplace for goods from throughout Europe. It’s mission is to offer the best from all over Europe in one place with a user friendly interface and simple shipping. It currently has some 2,873 brands listed on it a and 300,000 products from jewellery to sports gear.
Fruugo quit its Helsinki HQ to come and reside in the UK back in May 2012. It has been dogged with rumours of low revenues and a dwindling pot of investment but it still appears to be going strong. It could definitely be one to keep an eye on.
6. Not On The High Street
This UK start-up has gone from strength to strength since launching in 2006. It has a multitudinous amount of awards from Entrepreneur of the Year for founders Holly Tucker and Sophie Cornish, to Webby Awards.
It targets the gift market with categories such as For Her and Weddings and stocks jewellery and crafty-type bits and pieces.
7. Folksy
Folksy is the UK equivellent to Esty and bangs the drum for British craft makers. In much the same way you can design your shop front and you get a personalised URL but there are no edibles or vintage items allowed – only handcrafted products.
It launched in 2008 and has around 15,000 sellers active on the site.
8. Ebid
With a HQ in Surrey and launched in 1998, eBid it the UK’s answer to eBay. An online auction website, it has a presence in over 20 countries around the globe including South Africa, Hong Kong and New Zealand.
It has its own online payment service called PPPay but also uses PayPal and Google Checkout.
9. Waterstones marketplace
Our favourite UK bookstore has created a marketplace for used, out-of-print and hard-to-find books in conjunction with established marketplace Alibris. Waterstones market place offers books from sellers in 45 countries around the world
It claims to list more than 100 millions books.
10. Specialist Auctions
This is the online auction spot for rare, vintage and collectable items based in the UK. As you might imagine it stocks everything from dolls to militia to comics and autographs. It also doesn’t charge any listing fees.
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