Amazon revolutionized retail. What one thing has made Amazon a digital superpower? It isn’t their vast selection of goods – even as a small online bookstore, they were disrupting retail by transforming the way we buy and consume media. It isn’t their reliable delivery – customers expect this of any retailer. It isn’t their customer service – while it excels in the eyes of consumers and has a positive impact on Amazon’s bottom line, it’s nothing that most other retailers can’t mimic or even surpass.

Discover how the rise of online marketplaces is transforming the retail landscape in 2025. Explore emerging trends, consumer behavior, and strategies for retailers to thrive in this evolving marketplace. As we settle into 2025, the transformative role of online marketplaces is becoming increasingly prominent in the retail sector. Marketplaces have transitioned from being an alternative sales channel to a primary driver of business growth. Their influence is reshaping consumer behaviour and the way businesses interact with customers. In this article, we explore the latest trends surrounding digital marketplaces and their implications for retailers in today’s economy.

If you’re thinking of creating a B2B marketplace, you’re in good company.  Gartner estimates that 80% of B2B sales will occur digitally in 2025. As digital channels continue become more and more popular for B2B, marketplaces play an important role in the growing landscape.In fact, B2B marketplaces are the fastest-growing digital sales channel in distribution, with 100% year-over-year growth. This article walks through the basics of B2B marketplaces, how they work, and how to launch one. 

Building on the previous three years reports into the burgeoning and blossoming European marketplace sector, the ChannelX Europe’s Marketplaces 2024 report takes a performance led approach to analysing the market across Europe. Outlining the overall performance of the sector across Europe, the report assesses how marketplace trading as a whole has changed since 2023, focussing on both the sectors using marketplaces and the regions where marketplace use has changed.

Year after year, Amazon continues to revolutionize the way we shop and sell online. With its ever-growing global reach and customer base, Amazon is an essential platform for any brand. Amazon’s net sales reached an impressive $450 billion in 2024 through Q3, marking a significant milestone for the company. In fact, Q3 sales hit the second-highest total in Amazon’s history, underscoring its continued dominance in global ecommerce and remaining a key player for any seller looking to scale in the competitive ecommerce space.

While many of us remember the days when doorbells signaled more than just another delivery and hashtags were called pound signs, a growing part of the population will never know life before globalized ecommerce and social media. Gen Z grew up with the rise of Amazon and TikTok, two companies that completely altered consumer behavior, which makes their recently announced partnership an exceptionally unique opportunity for businesses to target this demographic.

For years, marketers have been asking the same question: How do our non-Amazon ads really influence Amazon sales? The truth is, most brands are flying blind. Amazon’s walled garden makes it impossible to track the complete customer journey, leaving you with incomplete data and missed opportunities. But what if you could finally see how your TikTok, Meta, and YouTube campaigns contribute to your Amazon revenue?

With insights from 4,500 shoppers in The USA, The UK, the Netherlands, Germany, and France, this report uncovers unique insights on marketplace adoption, usage, and preferences. Marketplaces are more than a sales channel— they’re where shopping begins. In our Marketplace Shopping Behavior Report 2025, we reveal how online marketplaces are now the #1 starting point for online consumers’ shopping journeys.