Marketplace

A marketplace is an e-commerce platform that connects third-party sellers with buyers. The marketplace operator runs the technical platform, the visibility and, often, the transactions.

How a marketplace works

The marketplace centralizes the offer of many sellers in a single interface. It usually takes a commission on each sale. Sellers benefit from the platform’s reputation and traffic, while buyers get access to a wide choice of products.

Examples and benefits of marketplaces

Amazon, eBay, Cdiscount and Fnac.com are generalist marketplaces. There are also marketplaces specialized by sector. For sellers, they offer fast access to the market. For buyers, they guarantee choice, comparison and security.

A concrete example

A French SME manufactures sports accessories. Without a marketplace, it would sell only through its own website, with limited traffic. With Amazon and Decathlon Pro, it instantly reaches millions of potential customers, while paying a 15% commission on each sale. Its marketplace revenue now accounts for 60% of its income.