Manor launches online marketplace

Manor, a big department store chain from Switzerland, has launched its online marketplace. The platform was announced last year, was released in silent beta mode recently and is now officially live. 
 

In August last year, Manor announced its plans for launching its own online marketplace. The idea behind the ecommerce platform was to expand Manor’s product range with new and existing brands in categories such as fashion, beauty, home, and household. At that time, a launch in the last quarter of 2020 was said to be the target, but since then, the project remained calm, Handelszeitung wrote.

Marketplace launch was delayed

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the activation of external brands and dealers was delayed. The company, which operates 59 department stores across Switzerland, wanted to wait with the official launch until a critical amount of products could be made available to customers.

But today, Manor has officially launched its online marketplace by opening Manor.ch to external partners. Initially, the department store chain will focus on its strongest product categories, but new offers are being added step by step.

‘Important step in digital transformation process’

“The introduction of the online marketplace is an important step in our digital transformation process”, Chief Digital Officer Stefan Wetzler says. “The platform economy is an important addition to our business model of the future. With the marketplace we are giving both retail companies and established and emerging brands deeper or new access to the attractive Swiss retail market.”

We give brands deeper or new access to the attractive Swiss retail market.

Already talking with 60 potential new partners

For Manor, the online marketplace is a way to double its online range without building up additional warehouse storage. During the first step, the Swiss company is focusing on the product groups that are strategically the most important: fashion and home & living. These will be followed by beauty, multimedia, toys and sports.The expansion started with 12 partners and over 20,000 products. Manor is already negotiating with another 60 potential partners.

‘100 partners at the end of 2021’

The plan is to have connected around 100 brands and retailers towards the end of this year. As a result, there should be about 200,000 articles available through the online marketplace.