Captivate Podcasts

The de minimis rule in the US has expired, Trump has raised tariffs on China to up to 145% – what consequences will this have for the global marketplace business? Valerie and Ingrid explore this question in the new episode with the most important news in April. The US move is having far-reaching consequences – Amazon Haul is also affected, as is DHL. There's more news from Kaufland Global Marketplace, Babymarkt.de, Breuninger – and the first real Marketplace Universe anniversary! Note from sponsor eBay: Expanding internationally – but how? If you want to learn more about how you can expand your global reach, then the free webinar “Unlock Global Growth Cross-Border Opportunities” from our partner eBay is for you. Isabell Butterwegge from eBay will share best practices and practical tips to help you succeed worldwide. You will learn about the opportunities eBay offers you and the tools available to support you. So mark your calendars: May 20, 2025, 11 a.m. To register, click here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/3017442359025/WN_bUNKInsESEyW2-TLrUlOBw#/registration Chapters 02:50 Impact of De Minimis Rule on US-China Trade 05:52 Amazon's Strategy Against Competitors 09:04 Marketplace Developments in Germany 12:01 Kaufland's Global Expansion Plans 14:54 DHL's New Fees and Market Reactions 18:02 Political Influences on E-commerce 21:10 Celebrating Marketplace Universe's Milestones

Wie schützt man eine Premium-Marke auf Marktplätzen wie Amazon, Zalando oder DocMorris – und sorgt gleichzeitig für Markenbekanntheit?  Diesen Fragen geht Valerie in der neuen Podcast-Episode mit Alexander Hally von Weleda nach. Sein Fazit: Zwei entscheidende Erfolgsfaktoren sind fundiertes Marktplatz-Know-how und eine klare Strategie. Im Gespräch verrät er, warum Weleda auf Amazon konsequent auf eine Vendor-Strategie setzt, wie die Marke auf Zalando gezielt den Sportbereich adressiert und welche Vorteile das Apothekengeschäft mit sich bringt. Außerdem erklärt er, warum er künftig stärker in Retail Media und Content-Optimierung investieren will – und weshalb der eigene Weleda-Webshop (noch) nicht so effizient läuft, wie er sich das wünschen würde. Hinweis vom Sponsor ChannelEngine: Marketplace-Gebühren, Middleware-Kosten, Pick & Pack, Versand, Retourenabwicklung und selbst Lagergebühren – wer auf Marktplätzen verkauft, weiß: Am Ende bleibt oft weniger übrig als gedacht. Denn versteckte Profit-Killer lauern überall.  Damit ihr mehr Profit aus euren Marktplätzen herausholen könnt, hat ChannelEngine im neuen E-Book 5 Tipps für mehr Profitabilität auf Marktplätzen zusammengestellt. Ihr  erfahrt, wie sich  selbst margenschwache Produkte in echte Gewinnbringer verwandeln lassen – und warum klar kalkulierte Mindestpreise entscheidend für die Rentabilität sind. 👉 Jetzt lesen: 5 Tipps für mehr Profitabilität auf Marktplätzen Kapitelübersicht: 02:21 – Markenpräsenz & Markenschutz bei Weleda 06:19 – Weleda im E-Commerce: Strategien & Herausforderungen 11:31 – Markenwahrnehmung & Premium-Positionierung 15:39 – Sortimentsstrategien & lokale Anpassungen 17:51 – Exklusivität im Sortiment 20:07 – Vertriebskanäle & Marktplätze 23:40 – Lernprozesse für Beauty-Marken 26:06 – Retail-Media-Strategien 31:21 – Zukunftsvisionen für Weledas Online-Reise

In this episode, Valerie und Ingrid sit down once again with Amazon expert Malte Karstan, fresh from his visit to Amazon’s European HQ in Luxembourg. From low-price strategies to cutting-edge AI features – Amazon is navigating competitive pressure from Temu, TikTok Shop & Co. with new tools and tactics. Together, they explore: Is Amazon Haul a tactical move or a long-term play? Is Amazon on its way to a super app – with features like Rufus, the AI-based personal shopping assistant combined with BuyForMe and the shopping experience beyond its own platform? What are Amazon's interests in making its purchase offer for TikTok in the US? And what does it all mean for sellers? Note from the sponsor Channable: Do you know the e-commerce solution provider Channable? Channable offers a solution that can map trade on more than 2,500 platforms – including marketplaces, of course. Products can be managed, promoted, sold and analyzed across channels and teams. This means that the marketplace team, the e-commerce team, the social media team, performance marketing, all work with the same software. The solution focuses on automation. In addition, integrations are available for common shop systems such as Shopify, WooCommerce or Lightspeed. Find out more at https://www.channable.com/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Amazon Update 05:04 Insights from Amazon's European Headquarters 07:25 Amazon's Corporate Atmosphere and Leadership Changes 10:53 FBA Fees and Competitive Strategies 15:03 Amazon's Low-Cost Strategy and Market Positioning 20:22 Amazon's Evolving Strategies 27:17 AI Innovations and the BuyForMe Feature 29:30 Amazon's Competitive Landscape and TikTok 32:53 Navigating Trade Challenges and International Expansion

For brands looking to sell in Germany, it quickly becomes clear that this market follows its own rules, surprising even experienced cross-border sellers – for example, because of the strong dominance of Amazon. In this episode, Ingrid and Valerie explore the question of what really drives German buyers, how they behave in marketplaces, and what that means for brands planning to enter the market. Dex van Hofwegen, Director of Sales & Customer Success at Dutch marketplace integrator ChannelEngine, is also joining us. Dex not only knows what questions international customers have when entering the German market, but also shares exciting insights from a cross-border study on consumer behavior in marketplaces in Europe.   Note from the sponsor Kaufland Global Marketplace: Do you want to meet Ingrid and Valerie live again? Then come to the e-Commerce Day of the partner Kaufland Global Marketplace on April 11th in Cologne! More than inspiring 30 lectures on 3 stages await you, for example from Philip Lahm and Michael Menzel from Google. Plus more than 100 exhibitors for everything that is important for the marketplace business and the new format "Speed Connect". With the exclusive promotion code MARKETPLACE-ECD-30, you get 30% off your ticket. So register right away at ecommerceday.de/tickets.   Chapters 01:53 Understanding the German Market 06:07 Consumer Behavior Insights 11:56 Marketplace Preferences and Trends 18:05 Challenges for International Brands 29:56 The future role of Temu, Shein and Tiktok Shop in Germany

It is THE topic that has kept the industry in suspense in recent weeks: the launch of TikTok Shop in Europe. Valerie and Ingrid take a critical look at this in the new newsflash episode of “Let's talk Marketplace”. Because despite the hype, TikTok Shop is not suitable for every brand, every retailer, and every product. They also discuss Shein's rapid growth beyond fashion, the annual results of eBay, Allegro and B&B, and the expansion of Autodoc, MediaMarktSaturn and Amazon Haul. And they talk about Ingrid's and Valerie's new passion project: the marketplace community for brand managers in the fashion, sports & shoes category, launching in June, and hardlines, launching in October. Note from the sponsor Kaufland Global Marketplace: Shipping, returns processing, tax regulations and one-stop shop procedures: the challenges of internationalization are a major concern for many retailers. Service providers such as exporto can help here: exporto specializes in cross-border e-commerce logistics in Europe. You can find out more in the webinar “Selling to post-Brexit UK” on April 8 at 11 a.m., in which Vanessa Schmidt from exporto and Ingrid will take a detailed look at the challenges of cross-border trade with the United Kingdom. Click here to register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_264R7k0nQd6t6hnyapQEeA#/registration   Note from the sponsor Kaufland Global Marketplace: Do you want to meet Ingrid and Valerie live again? Then come to the e-Commerce Day of the partner Kaufland Global Marketplace on April 11th in Cologne! More than inspiring 30 lectures on 3 stages await you, for example from Philip Lahm and Michael Menzel from Google. Plus more than 100 exhibitors for everything that is important for the marketplace business and the new format "Speed Connect". With the exclusive promotion code MARKETPLACE-ECD-30, you get 30% off your ticket. So register right away at ecommerceday.de/tickets.   Chapters 00:00 March Marketplace Highlights 04:21 TikTok Shop Launch and Reactions 07:27 Marketplace Figures and Trends 11:12 Marketplace Launches and Expansions 13:01 Shein's Marketplace Evolution 19:39 Vinted's Expanding Categories 26:59 Looking Ahead to April

TikTok Shop's business is doing really badly in the US and the UK – even if TikTok doesn't say it out loud! But what does this mean for the TikTok Shop launch in Europe and for brands that want to jump on the bandwagon? That's what Valerie and Ingrid discussed in this episode with Ed Sander from Chinatalk. Ed explains that TikTok has clearly failed to meet its own targets in the US and sees that success in the West is taking much longer than expected. He shares many exciting insights into TikTok and live commerce: specific figures on the volume in Asia, cultural differences in shopping behavior, the lack of an agency landscape around live commerce, and the possible market share of TikTok in a few years. And he also knows why TikTok has repeatedly postponed the launch of its shop in Europe and, in contrast to Temu, is proceeding very cautiously with its expansion. Note from the sponsor Kaufland Global Marketplace: Do you want to meet Ingrid and Valerie live again? Then come to the e-Commerce Day of the partner Kaufland Global Marketplace on April 11th in Cologne! More than inspiring 30 lectures on 3 stages await you, for example from Philip Lahm and Michael Menzel from Google. Plus more than 100 exhibitors for everything that is important for the marketplace business and the new format "Speed Connect". With the exclusive promotion code MARKETPLACE-ECD-30, you get 30% off your ticket. So register right away at ecommerceday.de/tickets. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to TikTok Shop and Its Impact 10:08 Ed Sander's Insights on TikTok's Performance 19:54 Understanding Live Commerce and Its Challenges in the West 23:39 The Challenges of Live Commerce in the US 25:03 TikTok's Strategy and Market Expectations 27:26 Cultural Differences in E-Commerce 29:30 Product Suitability for Live Commerce 31:03 TikTok's Approach to European Markets 34:05 Future Outlook for TikTok Shop and Live Commerce

Sometimes, the question of why someone tells a story in exactly that way is more exciting than the story itself! A good example of this is Zalando: the 2024 annual report and the associated statements are really interesting – especially what Zalando emphasizes and what is no longer mentioned. In this podcast episode, Ingrid and Valerie do just that: they analyze what the numbers really reveal and what it means for brands and marketplace partners – for example, the barely growing marketplace share or the emphasis on independence from About You for the next three years. Note from the sponsor bol: Bol is a leading marketplace in the Netherlands and Belgium, offering over 42 million products in 28 categories to more than 13 million customers. Its focus on customer satisfaction and innovation has made it the regional market leader. The platform attracts retailers from neighboring countries by offering personalized support and local consumer insights. Retailers can benefit from bol's logistics service, returns management, and retail media options. Curious to learn more? Tune in to podcast episode 97 to hear Alex Ciorapciu, Director of International Business, discuss selling on bol.   Note from the sponsor Kaufland Global Marketplace: Do you want to meet Ingrid and Valerie live again? Then come to the e-Commerce Day of the partner Kaufland Global Marketplace on April 11th in Cologne! More than inspiring 30 lectures on 3 stages await you, for example from Philip Lahm and Michael Menzel from Google. Plus more than 100 exhibitors for everything that is important for the marketplace business and the new format "Speed Connect". With the exclusive promotion code MARKETPLACE-ECD-30, you get 30% off your ticket. So register right away at ecommerceday.de/tickets.   Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Zalando's Financial Results 05:59 Understanding Zalando's Narrative and Market Position 11:58 Zalando's Revenue Growth and Brand Strategy 14:59 Marketplace Share and Brand Approval Challenges 18:00 International Expansion and New Market Opportunities 20:58 The Impact of the About You Merger 30:05 Brand Perspectives on the Merger 36:56 Zalando's ZEOS and B2B Growth Analysis

What does bol have that Amazon doesn't? Or to put it another way: Why is bol so far ahead in the Netherlands? Ingrid and Valerie explore this question in the new episode together with Thomas Philip-Bashar, Product Manager at the Dutch solution provider Channable. They discuss how bol has benefited from the fact that large players like Amazon have long ignored the small country, but that the Netherlands, with an internet penetration rate of 95%, is a very well-developed market. They discuss the role of logistics in defending the market position after Amazon entered the market in 2020. And they delve into the similarities and differences in the advertising options for both platforms. Thomas also expects a new advertising format at bol in the second half of the year. Note to the sponsor MediaMarktSaturn: With a turnover of 22.4 billion euros, MediaMarktSaturn is one of Europe's leading consumer electronics retailers. Since launching its marketplace in Germany in 2020, the company has been pursuing an international strategy and is now represented in Spain, Austria, Italy, and the Netherlands – and has also recently launched in Belgium. Poland will follow this year. The range includes around 2 million products in categories such as IT, TV, household, gaming and more. With additional services such as easy marketplace integration and individual support, MediaMarktSaturn makes it easier for its approximately 1600 retailers to do business on the marketplace. And if you want to know more, take a look at our detailed marketplace portrait of MediaMarktSaturn. https://marketplace-universe.com/marketplace-portrait-mediamarktsaturn/   Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to the Deep Dive Episode 06:29 Exploring the Dutch Marketplace Landscape 12:40 The Role of bol in the Dutch Market 18:54 Amazon's Impact and Strategy in the Netherlands 24:49 Advertising Strategies: bol vs. Amazon 30:35 Future of Marketplaces in the Netherlands

A fresh spring wind is blowing through the “Let's talk Marketplace” podcast! For the second season, Ingrid and Valerie have slightly changed the podcast concept: there is now a dedicated news episode once a month – so there is finally enough time to dive deeper into the most relevant news of the last few weeks. This episode is the first pure newsflash episode dealing with the most breaking marketplace news in February: Ingrid and Valerie – have looked extensively at the background to the launch of TikTok Shop in Germany, France and Italy – discussed the consequences of the new US customs policy – both for the US market and for European markets. – They also analyzed Amazon's 2024 figures – and examined the reasons for the end of the sports marketplace Colizey. Note on our upcoming webinar: Do you want to expand your marketplace business but don't know which marketplaces are worthwhile for you? Then take part in the webinar “Mastering Marketplaces: Strategies to choose your ideal Platform” on March 18 at 11 a.m. Online and for free, you will receive an indispensable guide to successful B2C marketplace expansion from marketplace experts Johannes Blindhuber from PlentyONE and Valerie Dichtl, offering actionable insights and a checklist for optimizing your strategy. The webinar, which will be held in English, is aimed at brands and companies in the consumer electronics, home & living, DIY, sports and toys sectors. Register here: https://marketplace-universe.com/events/webinars/webinar-plentyone/ Note from the sponsor exporto: Cross-border e-commerce is booming. However, international expansion still involves complex logistical and customs challenges for many companies. Service providers such as exporto, which specializes in cross-border e-commerce logistics in Europe, are there to help. With powerful technology and a strong partner network, exporto ensures that online retailers can ship their goods internationally just as smoothly as in their home market. The plug-and-play solutions cover everything from automated customs clearance and tax processing to local delivery over the last mile. More than 200 brands, including Mr. Speck's, Outfittery and Snox, already rely on exporto's all-in-one solution to drive their international growth. Find out more at exporto.de https://www.exporto.de Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Season Two 02:47 Changes in Podcast Format 06:01 TikTok Shop Expansion in Europe 09:06 US and EU Responses to Chinese E-Commerce 12:00 Impact of US Tariffs on Marketplace Sellers 15:08 Amazon's Financial Results and Marketplace Insights 17:04 Analyzing Amazon's Sales Performance 24:45 The Shift Towards Refurbished and Circular Economy 28:01 The Closure of Colizey and Market Challenges 31:39 Reflections on Market Trends and Future Insights

Ingrid and Valerie are proud to present: the 100th episode of the “Let's talk Marketplace” podcast! And that's why, in this episode, Ingrid and Valerie looked back on what they have achieved and revealed their visions for this year (spoiler: a real community for the marketplace people in Europe). They looked back on their biggest failures and their favorite guests. They talked about the importance of gut feeling, about trust and their “No Bullshuit Policy”. And they looked at the rapid pace at which they have been on the road with our Marketplace Universe for about a year. With episode 100, the second season of “Let's talk Marketplace” begins with some innovations, such as our own news episodes. Enjoy the anniversary episode and thank you so much for your loyalty! Note from the sponsor Channable: If you’re selling on Amazon or bol, you know that running ad campaigns can be complex – but also highly rewarding. Both platforms offer similar campaign structures, but there’s a key difference: On Amazon, a product can appear in both sponsored and organic search results. On bol, once you win the sponsored spot, you lose your organic ranking. Automation can make campaign management much easier. With tools like Channable, you can scale campaigns for a wide range of products, automate keyword selection, and optimize bidding strategies. If you would like to know more about the differences on ad campaigns an bol and Amazon, read our how-to article at Marketplace-Universe.comor listen to episode 102 in mid-March with Thomas Philip-Bashar, Product Manager at Channable, as guest. Note on our upcoming webinar: If you're selling on marketplaces, you've probably asked yourself already, how will shoppers buy in in 2025? Where does the journey begin, the shopping journey, what factors influence the decisions? The questions are the topic in the webinar „How marketplace shoppers buy in 2025: key insights“ together with ChannelEngine. When: March, 6th, 4 p.m. Who: Jorrit Steintz, CEO and Founder ChannelEngine, and Valerie Dichtl, Marketplace Universe Where: online and for free Register now here!https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0gnXPM0   Chapters: 00:00 Celebrating 100 episodes: A Milestone in Podcasting 02:53 Reflections on Podcasting Journey and Learnings 06:00 Favorite Guests and Memorable Moments 08:30 Podcasting Challenges and Lessons Learned 13:55 Transitioning to Season Two: New Structure and Focus 17:20 Transitioning to Marketplace Universe 24:46 Monetization Strategies and No Bullshit Policy 29:00 Looking Ahead: Future Plans and Community Focus 35:00 A heartfelt Thank You