B&Q launches online marketplace for Home Improvement goods

No primary category set

DIY retailer B&Q is launching an online marketplace where they will expand on their existing range. Within six months, 100,000 more home improvement products from third-party sellers will be available on B&Q’s existing website diy.com, where the marketplace has been seamlessly integrated.

The new range will sit alongside the 40,000 products currently sold by B&Q. The retailer aims to offer unparalleled choice with millions of products to be made available through the marketplace. 

According to Mirakl, Who will be powering B&Q’s marketplace platform, the new proposition will accelerate the brands ecommerce growth. The marketplace will be hosted online at B&Q’s website (diy.com) and the B&Q app. All third-party sellers at diy.com will be selected by B&Q experts. Sellers undergo a verification process to ensure they complement B&Q’s existing offer. 

Unsurprisingly, marketplaces are popping up all over, seemingly enhanced by ecommerce growth brought on by the pandemic. Macy’s, The Range & Dechathlon are a few who have recently taken the marketplace plunge and it is retailers from across the globe, who although confidently positioned on the high street are looking at how they can set up marketplaces to expand their online offerings and capabilities.

This is great news for third-party sellers, who will benefit from extra channels to sell their products on. B&Q’s marketplace fully reflects evolving customer demand, with the shift to online and the need for speed, convenience, and choice, and creates a scalable model for Kingfisher, B&Q’s parent company, to roll out marketplaces in other markets and banners. Building the marketplace for B&Q offers UK customers the chance to benefit from broader choice, something that other Kingfisher banners will be able to rollout under this scalable technology platform.

At B&Q, we’re focused on improving shopping experiences for our customers to make shopping with us even more convenient. Around 85% of our customers’ shopping journeys start online. With the launch of the marketplace, customers can now access an even bigger choice of home improvement products online, with the convenient option to return many products at their local store, with Click + Collect options coming in time. Marketplaces are a rapidly growing retail phenomenon around the world and we’re excited by the potential this model brings in combination with the convenience of our fulfilment capabilities. The unique multichannel combination of this online marketplace, along with our network of 300 stores, means we can offer customers a level of choice, speed and convenience that pure play retailers cannot match.

Graham Bell, CEO, B&Q

RELATED POSTS..

17012024-linnworks-x-virtualstock

Sell with top UK Retailers via Linnworks and Virtualstock

What to expect from UK marketplaces in 2024

What to expect from UK marketplaces in 2024

Autofixa Live -18th January Birmingham

Autofixa Live -18th January Birmingham

B&Q Marketplace sales trajectory

B&Q Marketplace sales trajectory

21 categories now live on B&Q Marketplace

21 categories now live on B&Q Marketplace

ChannelX Guide...

Featured in this article from the ChannelX Guide – companies that can help you grow and manage your business.

Register for Newsletter

Receive 5 newsletters per week

Gain access to all research

Be notified of upcoming events and webinars