Smaller online businesses in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are not benefiting from the restored growth in online spending. On the contrary, their revenue is decreasing. “It is becoming increasingly difficult for smaller online stores to maintain their position in the market.”
German seller of furniture and home decorations Westwing has recently entered three new markets. It has launched in Croatia, Finland and Slovenia. The company is now present in 18 European countries.
Buying second-hand products online has become common in Germany: 55 percent of consumers bought a used product online last year. Additionally, most Germans are active sellers of used products: 52 percent offered something for sale, mainly fashion, books, and electronics.
German online beauty and perfume store flaconi has recently launched in Sweden, Finland, Denmark and the Czech Republic. Next month, it will also launch in Italy. As a result of these launches, the company is now active in 12 countries in Europe.
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.