Thinking of selling online but not sure where to begin? Interested in selling across multiple platforms and marketplaces like Amazon but not sure where to go?
There are so many great places to sell online, so it’s not easy to know which one is right for you and your eCommerce needs.
To help you out, we’ve put together a list of some marketplaces and platforms to help you decide.
Amazon
You can sell pretty much anything on Amazon, although selling in some specialized categories requires Amazon approval and an upgraded selling plan.
Amazon charges several kinds of fees on items sold, depending on what kind of selling plan you have.
An Amazon consultant can help you decide which product to sell and how to start.
Thanks to its global presence, increasing popularity and extensive reach, Amazon is a great marketplace to list your products on.
The site offers millions of different products to a massive audience, and it’s the go-to online store for your everyday needs as well as one of the best places to sell online.
In fact, with annual sales hitting over £6 billion in the UK alone, it provides a significant opportunity for you to generate more sales and ultimately grow your business.
While Amazon is one of the biggest marketplaces in the UK, do also keep in mind that they operate international sites in 13 other countries worldwide.
With global payment solutions for Amazon FBA sellers, a worldwide expansion of your Amazon business is easier than ever.
Amazon charges several kinds of fees on items sold, depending on what kind of selling plan you have.
A huge advantage is that Amazon offers fulfillment for Amazon sellers.
This means that Amazon Sellers do not have to worry about numerous logistics processes, but instead benefit from the huge logistics network of the marketplace.
eBay
Another marketplace that online sellers see a lot of success on is eBay.
Similar to Amazon, eBay has a worldwide presence, a huge customer base and a significant number of tools and resources available to help online retailers successfully grow their business.
Over time eBay has become more and more popular for new items, rather than old second-hand goods.
eBay is a great place if you are starting out and want to test the market and gain early customers.
Additionally, selling on eBay is ideal for merchants with a large number of international customers.
With the Global Shipping Program, sellers can sell their products in 101+ countries by sending their goods to eBay.
eBay is a great way to make some extra cash from the comfort of your own home. It is accessible to anyone, there are no barriers to entry, and eBay is a household word.
Make sure you take the proper steps to educate yourself about eBay policies and rules before jumping in.
Bonanza
Bonanza is a great choice for retailers who specialize in fashion, home, beauty and art.
Bonanza is a very shopper-friendly website where low fees are the norm.
The site carries a wide variety of products, from fashion and jewellery to art and home furnishings, and offers sellers the ability to market their products via Google Shopping for a slightly higher fee.
Bonanza has a great importing system that automatically imports and syncs your item listings from an existing marketplace you use, like Amazon or eBay.
If you are listing items online for the first time, Bonanza allows you to edit multiple items at once.
It also offers to advertise your listing across the web in exchange for a higher percentage fee.
Etsy
If you have or want to start a homemade craft business, Etsy is a resource to help you sell your items online.
With a global presence and active user base, Etsy is a fantastic platform to list on if you sell handmade or vintage goods.
In fact, with over 25 million shoppers worldwide, serviced by around 1.6 million sellers, this niche marketplace really does offer a huge opportunity for business growth.
One of the benefits of this marketplace is that buyers are searching for items with a “homemade” feel, and the number of active buyers has grown steadily in the past few years.
Shopify
With Shopify, you won’t have to worry about server, security or any other technical issues.
You just need to sign up an account to open a store, then take care of the content of your store.
Currently, there are over 250,000 stores using Shopify to sell online.
You don’t need to be a designer or developer to use Shopify.
Customize the look and feel of your store with the online store builder and themes.
Shopify lets you sell almost anywhere your customers are, including online, in-person, online marketplaces, and social media.
Alibaba
Alibaba is China’s biggest B2B marketplace and is perfect for those of you wanting to connect with third-party sellers.
Alibaba is especially popular amongst sellers when it comes to sourcing products for Amazon FBA purposes.
And hundreds of thousands sellers join the Amazon marketplace each year.
Thus, they constitute a lucrative market. And if you are looking for bulk shoppers and businesses to market your products to, Alibaba is a great place to start.
On Alibaba, if you are wishing to sell internationally and especially in bulk order quantity then it is the best promotional tool.
For registration in Alibaba, you have to buy a membership first and its cost depends on your nature of business and your enthusiasm for online promotion.
If you’re interested in expanding your market or taking advantage of international sales opportunities, Alibaba can give your company the opportunity to do just that.
Be sure to take the time to set up your account the right way and to use the tools and resources made available if you want to make the most of your role as an Alibaba seller.
AliExpress
AliExpress has become the number one online shopping website in the world for both sellers and buyers alike that is known for its cheap and customer’s friendly prices without compromising the qualities of the products.
If you want to sell on AliExpress, first you have to register an Alipay business account.
During the process of completing your account registration, you will be required to prove that you have a legally established enterprise that is legitimate with certificates and documents of ownership to prove it.
AliExpress does not accept sellers or suppliers that sell products, goods and services from their private houses without properly registered as a business enterprise.
Ruby Lane
Ruby Lane is much more than just another eBay alternative.
It offers a platform for you to launch a business and promote your business.
Like other emerging marketplaces such as Addoway and Bonanza, Ruby Lane has a focus on antiques, art, collectables and artisanjewellery.
The fees on Ruby Lane are high, but they appear to have the traffic and ready-buyers to make the fees worth it in the end.
However, as with all online marketplaces, you will need to work to earn sales: Listing your items is only half the job!
Ruby Lane was recently rated as the 3rd most profitable marketplace, second only to eBay and Amazon.
With less competition and lower fees and both eBay and Amazon, you can be fairly confident in selling on Ruby Lane!
Cdiscount
Cdiscount started off as an entirely self-supporting platform. In 2011, they introduced their own third-party platform called Cdiscount Marketplace.
For the general cross-border e-commerce businesses ‘being on Cdiscount’ means having a presence on its Marketplace.
Cdiscount reserves the right to accept or reject any seller.
Each individual application remains confidential.
The account will be activated once registration as a professional seller is complete.
Cdiscount requires that sellers provide email customer service in French; sellers can use a third party for this.
Please note that phone support in French is not mandatory.
Walmart
Walmart is the marketplace to watch in North America.
They have a name, financial backing and infrastructure to have a serious decade-long battle with Amazon if they want to.
Many sellers play it safe and sell on both marketplaces.
There are many multichannel seller tools for Amazon FBA sellers that allow managing all of their distribution channels in one place. Every marketplace has its own benfits.
On Walmart, for example, the only fees you’ll pay for selling are referral fees that are determined by product category.
Sellers have to apply to start selling on the Walmart marketplace. The application isn’t lengthy, but the wait is.
After providing your basic business information and an overview of what and how you currently sell, be prepared to wait 2-3 weeks for a response.
Established businesses with solid brands stand to do well on the Walmart Marketplace.
If you’ve always dreamed of getting your product in Walmart stores, this might be a good way to make an impression.
It could also be a good option for new sellers looking to build brand awareness and credibility from the outset, but you’d want to have a clear strategy for how you’re going to make the most of it.
This guide was provided by The Appeal Guru.
