About You has revamped its marketplace. It has launched a new seller center. The onboarding process for external sellers has been adjusted, making it easier for other companies to sell on the growing platform.
Bevh, the German association for distance sellers, is requesting to reconsider European regulations regarding online platforms. The interest group argues that large platforms are being regulated too strictly and claims that this results in discrimination against these platforms, compared to physical competitors.
With Valued Shops, Europe has gained a new trustmark and review system. It is already active in the Netherlands, but under the name WebwinkelKeur. The company is now launching an international trustmark, in eight languages, with an initial focus on the German market.
Last year, Amazon earned 23.6 percent more from ads in Germany, while the company’s total revenue in the country grew by 'only' 8.7 percent. Amazon continues to capitalize on its reach, outpacing its competitors.
In the first two months after its launch, German consumers have not embraced TikTok Shop in large numbers. TikTok Shop is known by one in three consumers, but only one in forty Germans has made a purchase, according to research by media agency OMD.
In the high-volume world of online retail, the stakes are high when it comes to ensuring seamless logistics. One misplaced parcel or a delayed delivery can tarnish a brand’s reputation and burden operations with costly claims and frustrated customers. For Thomann, a German high-volume online music retailer, solving this challenge has been central to supporting its rapid growth and keeping customer satisfaction high.
Temu has now been active in Europe for two years. According to a recent survey by the Chinese marketplace, German customers said that they have average saving of 27 percent on purchases they placed on Temu in 2024. And 41 percent wonder why identical products cost more on other platforms.
Shopify merchants in Germany now have direct access to DHL shipping services through the ecommerce software platform. In addition to added convenience, online retailers also benefit from lower costs, according to DHL. The integration will become available in other key European markets as well.
Many major online retailers in Germany leave customers in the dark about how long they will have to wait for their products to be delivered. Personalized delivery time windows are especially scarce, even though consumers would appreciate them. “The desire for specific delivery times remains largely unmet.”
The German Retail Association (HDE) is increasing its forecast for ecommerce for this year. It predicts a four percent increase. The German ecommerce market is expected to reach a total value of 92.4 billion euros in sales by the end of this year.
The Otto Group has found its way back to profitability. The company refers to the past financial year, which ended in February, as an “extremely convincing financial year”. The retail and services group generated a net profit of 165 million euros. Otto is optimistic about the future and expects further growth, particularly from its successful marketplace.
The five largest ecommerce players in Italy account for 46 percent of the sales of the country's top 250 online sellers. Spain also sees a high concentration, with its top five players representing 41 percent of the market. In the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, the market is more evenly distributed. Yet even in those countries, the top 25 sellers are significantly larger than the 225 that follow.
For the past three years, DHL has been charging German online retailers a surcharge for parcel deliveries in November and December. This year, an additional hefty fee will be added during two peak weeks. It could lead German online stores to focus more heavily on Singles Day.
Last year, Decathlon generated 26 percent of its German trade volume online. The marketplace's share within that has nearly doubled in just one year. The platform serves as a catalyst for growth for Decathlon, both in Germany and beyond.
Starting today, TikTok Shop is available in Germany, France, and Italy, where a total of 72.1 million users reside. Among the first sellers are About You and Nivea, as well as local merchants. “TikTok Shop opens new opportunities for brands of all sizes.”