Zalando Business Update 2026 – Deep Dive
Zalando strategy 2026: Strong numbers — but key questions on partner dynamics, retail media and dependencies remain.
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Marketplace Universe News 16.03.2026 – Zalando Issues Positive Outlook / Breuninger Fails to Find a Buyer / Sigma Sports launches marketplace
Zalando expects adjusted EBIT of €660-740 million in 2026, up from €591 million in 2025. This would represent 12-25% growth. The company is also optimistic about trading volume: GMV is expected to grow by 12-17%, building on €17.6 billion in 2025. Zalando cites the increasing use of AI in areas such as product imagery and virtual try-ons as a key driver, helping to reduce costs and returns.
Marketplace Universe News 09.03.2026 – OpenAI halts Agentic Commerce / Amazon Haul grows rapidly / Refurbished on the rise
Just five months after entering Agentic Commerce with its Instant Checkout, OpenAI is already pulling the plug. It appears that while users research products via ChatGPT, they do not use the bot to complete purchases. However, OpenAI may be giving up too quickly: changing established user behaviour requires persistence – and, of course, the necessary investments.
Marketplace Universe News 09.02.2026 – Amazon set to lose pricing power / EU cracks down on TikTok’s addictive potential / Zalando under pressure
Germany’s competition authority has prohibited Amazon from influencing how third-party sellers set prices on Amazon.de through internal platform controls. Amazon may no longer enforce price caps via algorithms, nor apply indirect price parity by penalising visibility.
Marketplace Universe News 12.01.2026 – Amazon Shop Direct controversy / Allegro divests in Slovenia & Croatia / No Black Week figures from Amazon
Amazon tests new feature without retailer consent
Amazon is causing controversy with its new feature Shop Direct. The company lists products from third-party retailers without their prior consent. Product data is sourced from publicly available brand websites and purchases are completed via redirects to external shops. However, retailers can request an opt-out. Industry experts are criticizing the unsolicited data scraping – a practice Amazon itself has historically pushed back against.
2025 Marketplace Year in Review: The Great Re-Architecture
As we close out 2025, it’s clear this wasn’t just another year of incremental growth – it was a year of structural re-architecture. The marketplace model has moved from being a “digital shelf” to an integrated, AI-driven, and internationally fluid ecosystem. For sellers, the “Bigger Picture” of 2025 is the transition from managing listings to managing complex, cross-border value chains.
Go live in only 4 weeks: How ABOUT YOU’s new Seller Center works
ABOUT YOU has launched a new self-onboarding tool to make access to its marketplace faster and more straightforward. The ABOUT YOU Seller Center replaces the previous, more complex onboarding process and lowers the barriers for brands and manufacturers to start selling online.
Marketplace Universe News 07.07. 2025 – About You takeover approved / dm negotiates with Shein / bol opens for Non-EU-Sellers
Zalando’s takeover of About You gets greenlight from EU
It’s official: The EU Commission has approved Zalando’s acquisition of About You, roughly six months after the initial announcement. The deal is valued at €1.2 billion. Together, the two fashion platforms now serve around 65 million customers across Europe. With the merger, Zalando aims to better respond to pressure from Shein and Temu – and prepare for a future shaped by AI-powered commerce.
Marketplace Universe News 23.06.2025 – About You seeks new sellers / TikTok Shop’s Deal Days / Amazon makes Prime cheaper
Marketplace Universe News 23.06.2025 – About You opens marketplace for new partners
Fashion platform About You has overhauled its onboarding process, aiming to make it easier for small brands, start-ups, and independent labels to join. The seller center has also been revamped as part of the update.
Marketplace Country Quadrant Netherlands
As the Marketplace Country Quadrant Netherlands 2025 shows, the Dutch market is very broad and flat. The Local Heroes find themselves under attack from the international competition.