otto Archive - Marketplace Universe

Marketplace Universe News 30.03.2026 – TikTok Shop grows rapidly in Germany / EU Extends Processing Fee for Packages / Otto start with Sellers from Netherlands

One year after its launch, around 15% of German online shoppers have already purchased via TikTok Shop, according to NielsenIQ. Depth of usage is also increasing: the average purchase frequency rose from 2.3 to 3.3 purchases per year, while spending per buyer increased by around 32%. TikTok is thus increasingly evolving from a discovery channel into a transaction platform.

Marketplace Universe News 23.02.2026 – Amazon dethrones Walmart / eBay buys Depop / Wayfair returns to growth

After 17 years, Amazon has dethroned retail chain Walmart: With around $717 billion in annual revenue, Amazon is now the highest-revenue company in the United States. However, Amazon’s growth today stems less from retail and more from its comprehensive ecosystem of platform, logistics, cloud business, and advertising.

Entering Germany Beyond Amazon: Why European Brands Should Look at Otto

Otto opens up to European sellers. But what can those expect of the German marketplace giant?

Marketplace Universe News 02.02.2026 – Amazon plans investment in OpenAI / eBay blocks AI bots / Vinted expands into the US

Amazon is reportedly in talks with OpenAI about an investment of up to $50 billion. OpenAI is seeking a total of around $100 billion in fresh capital. SoftBank also said to be among the potential investors. OpenAI has also set the price for its new ads on ChatGPT at $60 per 1,000 impressions. That’s about three times as much as Meta.

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.

Marketplace Universe News 08.12.2025 – Amazon cuts fees in the EU / Cyber records at TikTok Shop / Taxdoo focuses on accounting

Starting in 2026, Amazon will significantly reduce its fees for FBA sellers in Europe by an average of €0.17 per unit sold. Commission fees are also set to fall, in some cases dramatically, in certain categories. Some changes will come into effect as early as February 1, 2026.

Marketplace Universe News 10.11.2025 – France’s battle against Shein / Zalando pushes into sportswear / TikTok Shop good start in Germany

Shein continues to face significant pressure in France: first, the government initiated to suspend the platform, then on Thursday, 200,000 Shein packages were inspected at Paris’ Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport. The goal: to remove illegal and unsafe products from circulation.

Marketplace Universe News 06.10.2025 – ChatGPT starts in-chat-shopping / Amazon tests Haul in Spain / Platformisation in Germany

OpenAI is rolling out a native checkout in ChatGPT, letting users in the U.S. buy products without ever leaving the chat. The first integrations are with Etsy and Shopify sellers. Users can see product options, select variants, and complete the purchase directly in the interface. It’s a first step toward what some call “agentic commerce” – where AI handles not just discovery, but also transactions.

Marketplace Universe News 22.09.2025 – Amazon launches strategy AI tool / Shein Xcelerator in Europe / More Logistic options for Temu and Shein

At its Seller Conference Accelerate, Amazon introduced a new Agentic AI designed to independently develop and execute strategies. The enhanced Seller Assistant will automatically warn sellers about potential overstock fees, suggest price adjustments, optimize inventory levels.