Marketplaces

While attending Shoptalk 2025 in Las Vegas from March 25-27, Total Retail's Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan had the opportunity to interview Chris Carl, head of marketing, U.S. for AliExpress, an international B-to-C e-commerce platform under the Alibaba Group. Carl discusses his role in growing market share for Alibaba's consumer e-commerce business in the U.S., recent updates…

Ever since Amazon.com debuted the “apparel” tab featuring items from a grand total of 35 sellers, marketplaces have been hailed as an invaluable way for brands and retailers to raise visibility, access new customers and, of course, boost sales. By the early 2010s, the business model had exploded, and brands including adidas, Michael Kors, Tommy…

The rise of third-party (3P) commerce has become instrumental to retail, reshaping how brands and retailers operate — and grow — in the digital marketplace. In an era of rapid technological evolution and shifting consumer behavior, this model offers businesses the flexibility and scale needed to adapt rapidly to market shifts and meet evolving consumer…

Thirty-six percent of Americans planned to shop for gifts this holiday season on Chinese online marketplaces such as Temu and Shein, a new survey from e-commerce marketing platform Omnisend found. The survey, which asked 1,000 Americans about their holiday shopping plans, found that 82 percent of American shoppers are doing their holiday gift buying online…

To sell or not to sell on marketplaces? That’s the tough question many small and midsized businesses (SMBs) are asking themselves. Maybe it’s something you’re considering, too. On one hand, third-party online marketplaces offer a powerful way to reach millions of potential customers. In fact, over 60 percent of sales on Amazon.com's store come from…

Despite all the positive momentum these past few years with third-party marketplaces, brands encounter many challenges when working with these platforms — from meeting complex onboarding guidelines to integrating APIs to cataloging data in real time. Brands also have much to lose if they partner with the wrong platform. The obvious loss is time and…

In episode 462 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Lauren Benton, general manager, U.S. at Back Market, a verified refurbished technology marketplace. Listen in as Benton provides an overview of the business (1:00), its process for sourcing quality used devices (1:55), and Back Market's first Impact Report showcasing its sustainability efforts (3:55). She…

There’s no denying the grip Amazon.com has on consumers. Amazon is reported to account for nearly 50 percent of all e-commerce sales in the U.S. as of 2023. To put it in perspective, Amazon gets one of every two dollars spent in e-commerce at large. This cannot be understated. Brands at all levels — low-margin,…

This week marks the 10th Amazon Prime Day, a major milestone for both Amazon.com and independent sellers that sell on its marketplace. Amazon’s significant investments in marketing, merchandising, operational infrastructure, and people that drive independent seller success result in an end-to-end experience that boosts sales for small businesses. In fact, Prime Day 2023 was the…

Third-party commerce (3P) is growing. U.S. retail e-commerce sales will grow to $588 billion by 2027, with online marketplaces accounting for nearly 40 percent of those gains, according to eMarketer. 3P commerce allows brands to reach consumers directly through retailer marketplaces. However, it can be difficult for brands to effectively manage their presence across multiple…