Marketplaces

Fashion marketplace Saclàb has raised 1.6 million euros in seed funding. The company wants to use the capital for product development as well as HR and marketing activities. The platform is also planning a launch in the United States.

Zalando saw its earnings before interest more than halve last year. The platform’s sales increased slightly by 3 percent compared to a 34 percent growth in 2021. After a tough year, the fashion giant predicts revenue could shrink in 2023.

Used cars retailer Autohero.com generated 1 billion euros in sales in 2022. That is an increase of over 80 percent compared to the year before. This is mostly due to raising prices of used cars following supply chain shortages.

Fashion retailer Yoox is adding a secondhand category on its marketplace. The pre-owned category is available in nearly 30 European countries. Later this year, the marketplace is planned to launch in the United States and Middle East as well.

Zalando is introducing a base rate for third-party sellers and brands starting July 1st. Partners will have to pay a monthly 40 euros. In addition, the fashion retailer will increase commissions per sold item for certain products.

Zalando is planning to cut up to 5 percent of its employees. The online fashion giant said in a note to staff it would eliminate hundreds of jobs. This makes Zalando part of a growing list of ecommerce companies laying off staff due to the current economic situation.

The European Union is implementing the Digital Services Act and the Digital Market Act, which impact online marketplaces and social media platforms. This package of rules will create a safer digital space for users and fight rogue sellers.

Online fashion marketplace Secret Sales has reached a 70 percent year-on-year growth in sales in 2022. This was largely driven by the company’s international expansion last year. It expects to maintain a growth of 85 percent this year.

Ecommerce giant Amazon has decided to skip wholesalers in Europe. Instead, it will focus on sourcing products from brands. By doing so, it wants to ensure low prices for consumers.

Dutch marketplace Bol.com’s sales have slightly lowered in 2022. In the last quarter, online sales decreased nearly 3 percent compared to an 7,8 percent increase the year before. In all of 2022, gross trading volume lowered nearly 2 percent.

The Benelux-based Maxeda DIY Group, a group of DIY retailers, is launching its own marketplace. It is the first DIY marketplace within the Benelux. At the launch, the marketplace already offers 10,000 new products on top of the current product assortment.

Online marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay and Vinted will now have to report sales made on their platforms by end users to the tax office. This is part of a new EU law. Private sellers will be reported when they make over 2,000 euros or have over 30 transactions per year.

In the three weeks up to Black Friday, Zalando’s product prices increased by 8 percent. At the start of Black Friday week, prices dropped again by 18 percent. At the end of the week, prices had dropped 23 percent.

Shopee, an online marketplace from Singapore, has left Poland. The company launched there just over a year ago. After also canceling operations in France early last year, Shopee is saying goodbye to Europe as a whole.

Amazon plans to close three distribution centers in the United Kingdom, the company’s biggest market in Europe. After investing heavily during the pandemic ecommerce boom, the retail giant is experiencing a dip in demand.