“We want to share our knowledge and expertise with Belgian webshops.”

Helping entrepreneurs sell successfully online: that's what we aim to achieve with our Partnerplatform. And together, you simply achieve more, much more. That's why bol partners with Becom, the Belgian e-business federation. Soon, during the Becom Awards, we will even present the Marketplace Award. Why do we attach so much importance to this partnership and to that award? Bram Vromans, Country Lead at bol Belgium, explains. 

Why does bol partner with Becom?

bol distinguishes itself as a local player strongly committed to quality items, good service, and short delivery times. Furthermore, we work with local people who know the local market, are close to their partners, and can support them quickly.

As a local player, we consider the partnership with Becom very important. We want to fulfill it as best as possible. We want to share our knowledge and expertise with Belgian webshops — with Becom's members. The Becom Awards are the perfect opportunity to make that concrete. We would like to show that webshops and marketplaces can strengthen each other.

Is it possible to sell only via a marketplace?

Many entrepreneurs wonder if it's possible to sell exclusively via a marketplace like bol, without their own webshop or physical store. The short answer is: yes, it certainly is.

A common scenario is that physical stores don't set up a webshop but only sell via a marketplace. For them, it's a valuable channel to offer their items online without the costs, time, and technical challenges of their own webshop.

There are also entrepreneurs who don't have a physical store and don't want to start a webshop, but focus entirely on selling via a marketplace. This makes it easier for many starting entrepreneurs or small businesses to sell online without large upfront investments.

Is a marketplace an added value for those who already have a webshop?

Absolutely, a marketplace can also be interesting for entrepreneurs with an existing webshop. Building a strong online presence requires a lot of time and money. A marketplace offers you the opportunity to gain direct access to a large audience, such as bol's in the Netherlands and Belgium.

If you have a good proposition, you can benefit from the visibility and promotions of the marketplace. This can not only lead to more sales on the platform itself but also to increased brand awareness. Customers who get to know your items via the marketplace may later decide to order directly from your webshop.

Does a marketplace have specific advantages over a webshop?

When you have a webshop, you need to comply with all sorts of legal requirements, ensure secure payments, and maintain your webshop. It also requires time and budget to run a webshop successfully. This is where a marketplace like bol offers a solution. It makes selling online possible, without the complexity of your own webshop.

Additionally, as a partner on a marketplace, you have full control over which items you offer and at what price. This gives you the flexibility to adjust your offer to market demand, without being tied to monthly costs.

What exactly do the Becom Awards entail?

On November 7, the Becom Awards 2024 will be presented. This annual event gives webshops the opportunity to showcase their achievements and receive recognition for their hard work.

We are very happy to support this initiative, and to show that, bol will present the Award in the 'Marketplaces' category. It promises to be a fantastic evening that we are very much looking forward to!

This is Bram Vromans

• Country Lead for bol in Belgium since 2023
• Enthusiastic about digital strategies and new business models