This post about Fnac is part of Tamebay’s January and February 2018 Marketplaces series sponsored by Flubit. To find a full list of marketplaces we’ve written about this month, visit our Marketplaces 2018 page here.
Web address: https://www.fnac.com
Marketplace Overview
Fnac is a French retailer founded in 1954 and one of France’s best known high-street retailers that specialises in media sales such as books, CDs, DVDs and also games, photography and ticket sales. It is the third most visited ecommerce site in France, after Amazon and Cdiscount. And as a prospect it’s worth noting that it is also one of the fastest growing marketplaces in the Europe. It’s also worth remembering that Amazon and eBay aren’t as dominant in France as in the UK and several marketplaces, including Fnac (pronounced fernack), enjoy huge success and popularity.
Trading in four European countries: France, Belgium, Portugal and Spain, the marketplace has over 20 million shoppers and boasts over 10 million unique visitors each month. They stock 10 million items including technology, home and garden, books, sports and baby products. There are reckoned to be over 3000 merchants selling via the marketplace.
Seller registration and requirements
You’ll need to apply to sell and sales commissions range between between 8% and 14% depending on product category. The subscription of €39.99 per month bags you a VendeurPro account. There is also a management fee (“frais de gestion” in French) of between €0.49 – €1.49 depending on value of what you’re selling.
The ability to communicate proficiently in French is vital on Fnac. Not only should listings be in French but the site and help is also in the language. And you’ll need to provide customer support in French too.
Product listings and fulfilment
Fnac is integrated with a variety of multichannel marketplace management software companies, including Linnworks, so it is relatively easy to integrate your exiting inventory with the marketplace via one of those services. You can fulfil itms yourself and utilise Fnac’s network of nearly 200 outlets for click and collect. Fnac emphasises the importance of decent photography when it comes to showcasing your wares.
Tamebay’s take on Fnac
France is a big ecommerce opportunity and Fnac is a key player. France has a very well established ecommerce market and it continues to hold its position as the third largest online industry in Europe and the sixth biggest ecommerce market worldwide. It is also a relatively easy country to ship to from the UK and has an efficient and reasonably priced postal service. Consumer electronics and media are particularly popular.
So if you’re sold on the French opportunity, then this is an obvious choice alongside Amazon, eBay and CDiscount.
If you have you any experience selling on Fnac, please do share your insights.
For more information about marketplaces check out the Tamebay Guide.
