Considering the availability of resources to sell online, it makes sense to maximize sales\u2014in other words, sell on as many platforms as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But that\u2019s not always the case. Some products don\u2019t fit well with the most common marketplaces, just as some products aren\u2019t even allowed to be sold on them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In these cases, having your own e-commerce is absolutely necessary. These are niche cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But there are also situations where selling through your own e-commerce is very complicated, and the right approach is to sell exclusively on marketplaces and focus sales efforts there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This question doesn\u2019t have a simple answer, despite what articles and influencers in the industry often suggest. That\u2019s exactly why we wrote this article\u2014to explore the nuances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s dive into what marketplaces are, when it makes sense to sell on them, when it doesn\u2019t, and other key aspects of this topic.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Phew! Let\u2019s get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before we get into the article itself, we need to clarify what marketplaces actually are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If this is too basic for you, feel free to skip to the next section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marketplaces are websites where you can sell your products by paying a fee on each sale.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Many of these marketplaces also offer integrated logistics systems, making product delivery easier for customers. However, sellers can also use their own shipping methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main marketplaces used in Brazil today are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest appeal of selling on marketplaces is that you don\u2019t need to create a website to start selling. You just need to organize your products in an SKU spreadsheet, add photos and descriptions, and that\u2019s it\u2014you\u2019re ready to sell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time, you must pay a fee per sale, which varies by marketplace but typically ranges between 10% and 20%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This percentage is quite high, but considering that building a good e-commerce store costs around R$20,000 plus a dedicated team with a monthly salary, it\u2019s easy to see why marketplaces dominate the market today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But to better understand the differences between marketplaces and independent e-commerce, we need to explore some fundamental contrasts.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Check it out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Running your own e-commerce is not a simple task. That\u2019s why, when marketplaces arrived in Brazil, they were immediately filled with thousands of sellers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first challenge of independent e-commerce is the barrier to entry<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you sell physical products and want to set up your own e-commerce, the first step is building a website\u2014<\/strong>something that\u2019s not so easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You need a development team, or at least a programmer. You need to create the website, which takes time and is expensive. You need to set up a marketing team, invest in campaigns, create social media accounts, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All of this requires a significant investment, comparable (with some caveats) to opening a new physical store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marketplaces already have this structure ready. You just need to start selling.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the main reason for their popularity. Also, the costs only come after you sell, not before, like with independent e-commerce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But at the same time, marketplaces also come with some limitations<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marketplaces aren\u2019t perfect either. They present challenges, especially for experienced sellers and those who need more control over their sales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest issue is lack of customization. You have to adapt to the marketplace, not the other way around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This can be frustrating. A simple feature like an <\/strong>e-commerce chatbot<\/strong><\/a> can\u2019t be installed. There\u2019s no support for it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Another limitation is the commission fees, which never go away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With your own e-commerce, you have high initial costs, but over time, sales help cover them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In other words, you eventually reach a break-even point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On marketplaces, there is no break-even for commission fees\u2014they will always be charged.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, payment and shipping conditions are usually dictated by the marketplace itself. While this isn\u2019t necessarily a huge issue, it does limit flexibility for specific cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The truth is, both marketplaces and independent e-commerce come with challenges and opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Knowing where to sell is crucial for maximizing opportunities and minimizing problems. Let\u2019s discuss this in more detail in the next section:<\/p>\n\n\n\n As we\u2019ve discussed, each selling method has its own challenges and benefits, depending on your operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your specific situation will generally determine whether it\u2019s better to sell on independent e-commerce, marketplaces, both at the same time, or even somewhere else entirely\u2014such as WhatsApp or social media sales only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ll cover those alternative sales channels at the end of this section. But for now, let\u2019s focus on selling through independent e-commerce and marketplaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a big topic, so let\u2019s get right to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are scenarios where selling on marketplaces doesn\u2019t pose significant problems and offers great opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example: if you already have a well-established independent e-commerce store<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your online store is already making sales, there\u2019s no reason not to expand to marketplaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another scenario: if you own a physical store and want to expand your operation online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even without your own e-commerce site, selling on marketplaces gets you online and increases your brand\u2019s sales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, there are classic cases where selling on marketplaces isn\u2019t the best idea.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For example: if you have a production bottleneck\u2014let\u2019s say you create handmade products\u2014selling on marketplaces becomes much harder due to inventory management challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Likewise, if your products are highly niche, sales on marketplaces will naturally be lower, yet you\u2019ll still be paying commission fees on every sale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In such cases, many brands prefer to run a simpler, independent e-commerce store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The fashion and apparel industry often prefers independent e-commerce, especially for alternative or niche fashion brands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are marketplaces catering to fashion, like Netshoes, Dafiti, and SHEIN, but they come with limitations that some more unique and niche brands struggle with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example: You can\u2019t launch a major new collection on marketplaces with the same visibility as on independent e-commerce.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A new collection release won\u2019t be highlighted on a marketplace. Meanwhile, with independent e-commerce:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bolovo is one of the best examples of how brands with a more original approach and a strong focus on digital marketing<\/a> achieve better results with a website they fully control.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Basics First \u2013 What Are Marketplaces?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/getleadster.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/O-que-significa-ser-data-driven-e-como-se-tornar-mais-direcionado-a-dados.webp\")
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Independent E-commerce Brings Challenges That Marketplaces Easily Solve<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Marketplaces Also Present Challenges<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhere to Sell? Marketplaces or Independent E-commerce?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Selling on Marketplaces<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Selling on Independent E-commerce<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/getleadster.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/en-dk-2.webp\")
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