bol

Second Hand Quadrant: online Plattforms in Europe Generalists and C2C Origins

Second-Hand: The Most Important Marketplaces in Europe

Our first Second Hand Quadrant is here – and it clearly shows how rapidly the European second-hand market is professionalizing. Generalist marketplaces are expanding their offerings, C2C platforms are opening up to sellers, and specialized players are strengthening their positions in niche segments. The result is a hybrid ecosystem that offers significant opportunities for merchants.

bol Sale Solden in January

Growth Driver January: How Sellers Can Make the Most of bol’s Sale Window

January in the Netherlands and Belgium is not a quiet transition period but a clearly defined sale window that sellers can actively use for growth. On bol, strong demand impulses, lower competition, and stable logistics converge – an ideal mix to boost visibility, clear stock, or launch new assortments. Sellers who plan early, localise effectively, and align their campaigns with bol’s promotional calendar can turn January into a strategic advantage for expansion into NL and BE.

Marketplace Universe News 03.11.2025 – Amazon stays strong / AliExpress giant gains ground / Shein sparks protests in France

Amazon reports double-digit sales growth
In Q3 2025, Amazon posted net sales of $180.2 billion, up 13% year over year. Operating income was $17.4 billion (roughly flat YoY) and net income rose to $21.2 billion. Yet the marketplace giant faces mounting headwinds. Agentic & social commerce, U.S. customs policy effects, and seller fatigue could weigh on performance, argues Malte Karstan.

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 Country Quadrant Netherlands 2025

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.

Top growth categories on bol

Categories and Assortments: What’s Working on bol

With an estimated GMV of around 5.6 billion USD and over 1.6 billion USD in revenue in 2025 alone, bol represents the dominant marketplace model in the region. But which product segments are performing well? Where do assortment gaps exist? And what should new sellers focus on? The following insights into Categories and Assortments: What’s Working on bol provide guidance.

Best practise: Tredhim's start at bol

Best practice: Trendhims’s start at bol

Within a year, the Danish supplier of men’s accessories had launched on five marketplaces in eight countries. For its entry into the marketplace business, Trendhim chose bol, the Dutch market leader. Reason enough to take a look at the best practise of Trendhim’s start at bol.

Scroll to Top