Launch

Swedish parcel delivery services Instabox and Budbee are announcing a merger. Together, they will continue under a new holding: Instabee. The new company is valued at 1.7 billion euros.

The Ukranian government has launched an online marketplace called Made with Bravery. Brands and makers from the Ukraine can sell their products on the platform. Of every purchase, 5 percent is donated to the United24 platform, which collects donations to help rebuild the country.

Leading ecommerce platform Shopify is launching Translate & Adapt. The tool, which works with Shopify Markets, offers localisation for merchants looking to expand to new markets. The new application is available worldwide as of this week.

Dutch platform for returned goods New Returns, active in the Netherlands as 2dekansje.com, is expanding internationally for the second time in one year. It is launching in France with a different trade name, 2echoix.fr. The launch follows an earlier German launch with bwareshop.de in March.

Wholesale marketplace for secondhand luxury goods LePrix is launching in France. It is originally from the US and is now starting European expansion. “The demand for pre-owned luxury goods in Europe is surging”, says General Director Camille de Vregille.

German fashion and lifestyle retailer Breuninger is expanding again. Customers in the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, Spain and Italy can now orders goods and have them delivered by post. The retailer is now active in nine markets in total.

Ecommerce fashion giant Zalando is planning to launch in the US next year. To do so, it will invest at least one hundred million euros. However, current disappointing financial results have put the plan on hold.

OsCommerce, on of the first ecommerce software tools, launched a new version. The v4-version remains free and open source, but introduces design templates, multiple sales channels and updated security. “We want to revive the once great ecommerce platform,” managing director Vadym Gurevych says.

Ecommerce software Shopify and online video streaming platform YouTube are launching YouTube Shopping. The feature offers multiple options for live shopping, where users can purchase products directly on YouTube’s website.

Fashion ecommerce giants Zalando, About You and Yoox Net-a-Porter are launching a sustainability platform for brand partners. The platform will offer a learning programme and engagement between brands and sustainability experts.

BigCommerce has announced that it will expand into Denmark, Norway, Austria and Sweden. The expansion comes six months after its launch in Germany and Spain. Sellers of all sizes can build their online store with local storefronts.

Ecommerce giant Amazon is launching its first ‘micromobility’ hub in London. The launch consists of a fleet of e-cargo bikes and on-foot delivery staff. The hub will carry out around 5 million deliveries a year.

JohnBeerens.com, the online beauty retailer from the Netherlands, is launching in France and Germany. The company is also working on its own product label and customer loyalty program.

Vinted, the secondhand fashion marketplace, is launching its own logistics company: Vinted Go. The service will have its own parcel lockers in and around Paris. Additionally, its online shipping platform can be used by other companies.

Ecommerce giant Amazon is launching in Belgium, with Amazon Belgium. The marketplace is said to launch in September. Earlier this year, the company announced plans of opening a logistics center in the country.