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Marketplace App - a Great Idea for Your Business
There are many marketplace applications on the market, some of them stand out with excellent financial results, and some still need to be discovered by the average user. You have probably wondered more than once why this is happening. Well, creating a great app always starts with a great app idea. But the idea itself, even if it is the most original and innovative, is not enough. It is crucial to build the application following the software development life cycle because it ensures that each stage of the mobile app development has been adequately thought out, prepared, and implemented. The application development process is a big challenge, takes a lot of time, and requires appropriate financial outlays. That is why it is worth entrusting it to a trusted software development company with experience in creating successful applications.
A successful application meets the needs of the user and, at the same time, allows the owners to monetize an app. It is obvious, but we have the impression that sometimes in the excitement of creating applications, the creators forget about it.
What is a Marketplace?
Marketplace apps have been developing very dynamically for several years. It is due to many factors. One is the pro-ecological trend among users, which makes people more willing to sell things they no longer use. Another factor was the lockdown, which meant that sales moved online, and people had a lot of time to clean out wardrobes and basements, which resulted in the need to get rid of things that had not been used for a long time. Besides, not without significance is the fact that the number of Internet and mobile device users is growing year by year.
But marketplace apps are not only about used things; many companies sell new stuff on these platforms. In addition, the variety of items sold does not matter here, and they can be clothes, shoes, books, electronics, handicrafts, cars, or even antiques.
But what exactly is a marketplace? A marketplace is a platform that offers the goods of many online sellers in one place, allowing customers to buy them. One of the main advantages is almost instant access to many customers without any investment related to promoting the product or the store. Marketplace applications enjoy high brand recognition among buyers, translating into a market position for many of them.
The disadvantage of this platform is the vast competition in one place and the price fight between sellers, which paradoxically has a positive impact on buyers' wallets.
There are many billing models, but the most popular system is the commission system, where the seller pays the transaction fees only when the buyer pays the price. It protects the interests of sellers from dishonest buyers. In the case of natural persons who want to sell their used things, there are often no fees, or they are minimal (e.g., when the seller issues more than 20 sales offers in a given month).
The Most Interesting Marketplace Apps
We have prepared for you a list of platforms that are recognized around the world. We hope this list will inspire you to use such a platform or start your own.
Instead of creating a new mobile app or website, Facebook has made a new feature for its vast community. Although the monthly traffic on Facebook Marketplace compared to giants like Amazon is disproportionately smaller, it is trendy. Because its use is effortless, it is attractive to all beginners who want to start their adventure with selling. Plus, Facebook Marketplace doesn't require any e-commerce site-building tools knowledge, so it's for everyone.
In this application, individuals, and companies can sell, for which this platform is the equivalent of an online store. Offers of products for sale can be promoted, but this is optional.
eBay is the most famous and one of the largest applications for selling things. It has been on the market since 2008 and is constantly updated and improved to meet the changing market requirements.
What distinguishes eBay is that it offers the possibility of direct sales to consumers and a B2B model. Users of this marketplace app can sell individually or even in batches for the amount they specify or as part of an auction. So if you are interested in selling or buying in bulk, this platform is worth considering.
Amazon is a global marketplace app that has revolutionized the e-commerce market. Trading through its platform is extremely easy and profitable, attracting potential buyers and sellers. The company was founded in 1994 in Seattle on the initiative of Jeff Bezos. Initially, it specialized in selling books, then enriched its offer with multimedia, electronic equipment, and other types of products. It now has centers around the world.
Amazon's main differentiator is offering different sales options and logistics models to meet sellers' needs. For example, under the Fulfillment by Amazon package, the company stores the sellers' products in its distribution centers and assumes all obligations related to order fulfillment. Of course, this is a voluntary option for which Amazon charges. The seller may use other variants of cooperation; he may also independently, using his resources, take care of the logistics of the products he sells.
Amazon generates a huge amount of traffic on its platform, which makes it one of the most successful marketplace apps.
Etsy is a global online platform for selling and buying handmade, vintage, and craft supplies. Handcrafted items are trendy among customers, which is confirmed by Etsy's financial results. Over 400 million people shop on Etsy every month. These are mainly women aged 18-35, which shows that Etsy's offer reaches a specific group of customers.
Etsy charges listing and transaction fees, but these are small amounts. Both sellers and buyers praise the user-friendly interface and ease of use.
Craigslist is another example of a marketplace app, but this time with a completely different character. Craigslist was founded in 1995 by Craig Newmark. Interestingly, it started as a site for sharing information about various events with friends. Still, it quickly became a colossal classifieds platform with 350 million visits per month.
Craigslist is an informal marketplace, meaning there are no restrictions on the type of goods or sellers. Anyone can sell almost anything here, and posting in almost all ad categories is free. The interface is characterized by simplicity and modesty. This marketplace app is simple and intuitive to use.
The site has many categories, and each category has many subcategories. It facilitates quick navigation on the site. By having simple and easy-to-understand sales and purchase rules, they could build trust with consumers, which led to the development of the portal.
Craigslist is an exciting option when you have a small number of products to sell, but if you want to sell large quantities, there may be better solutions than Craigslist.
OfferUp is another marketplace app that was founded as a competitor to Craigslist. It sells everything - from potted plants, books, vintage clothes, and handicrafts to furniture and cars.
What distinguishes OfferUp from the competition is that users can create profiles and issue ratings and reviews to other users. Communication between buyers and sellers occurs directly in the application via secure messaging. It makes it easier to verify the seller and build trust between contractors. Besides, OfferUp shows what is selling in your current location. Users appreciate OfferUp's ease of listing and selling items and user-friendly interface.
OfferUp is developing very dynamically. In 2020, it took over Letgo to create a new powerhouse.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many marketplace apps, but there is still room for more on the market. Some applications of this type work only in specific cities, and some specialize only in selling a particular category of items (e.g., handicrafts). It's just that their creators found a niche in which their product fits perfectly.
If you have an idea for a marketplace application but are terrified of creating a mobile app from scratch, feel free and arrange a free consultation with our specialists. We have been creating successful projects for over a dozen years, and we are happy to help our clients create a product that will help them start earning money.