These are the 35 most important online marketplaces for DIY & GARDEN
The DIY & garden sector is set to be one of the most dynamic areas in marketplace retail for 2024. Unlike other sectors, the usual division for our Marketplace Quadrants into “budget” and “luxury” does not apply here, as both high-priced and low-priced products are often found in the same stores. The primary distinction between the players lies in the level of service they offer. Some stores focus on “pick & go” offerings with lower prices but minimal advice, while others with higher average prices emphasize services and expert advice.
To reflect this, the X-axis in the DIY & GARDEN Marktplace Quadrant differentiates between “budget” and “specialist retailers,” balancing accuracy and readability.
The Most Important Players:
The international competitors lead the market:
- ManoMano in France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Germany and in the UK
- VidalXL, based in the Nethrlands, active in 29 european countries
- Maxeda Group in the Benelux countries
- B&Q/Kingfisher in the UK
- Leroy Merlin in France
These platforms are well-established and experiencing rapid growth. Kingfisher and the Maxeda Group, in particular, have substantial capital and a strong commitment to expanding their platforms quickly.
Among the German players:
- Hornbach launched the first version of its platform last fall.
- Bauhaus plans to launch its marketplace in the second half of 2024.
- Obi is still in development.
The German companies face a challenging race to catch up.
The Role of Generalist Marketplaces:
The Role of Generalist Marketplaces:
- In Germany, Amazon dominates, having allowed German brick-and-mortar DIY stores to take the lead online for too long. This is also true in Italy and Spain.
- In other European countries like Denmark, Sweden, and Greece, eBay is the clear winner.
- Additionally, local heroes such as Bol.com in the Netherlands, Galaxus in Switzerland, and Allegro in Poland have strong control over their home markets.
Conclusion
In many countries, traditional DIY stores have been slow to embrace the online trend, lagging behind the competition. This has left a gap that generalist marketplaces like Amazon and eBay have successfully filled, alongside strong local players. The absence of pure online players in this sector has allowed these generalists and local heroes to dominate the DIY marketplace business.