"A strong onboarding process really makes the difference."
Emmanuelle Boulanger from Vertbaudet explains how bol helps them reach Dutch and Belgian customers, gain trust, and accelerate their growth in the Benelux.
From France to the Benelux: a natural next step for Vertbaudet
In this interview
We speak with Emmanuelle Boulanger from Vertbaudet about their growth via bol, reaching Dutch and Belgian customers, and the opportunities they see in the Benelux.
Why was the Benelux a logical next step in your international growth?
We are already active on more than ten European marketplaces, including in France, Germany, and Switzerland. Expanding our presence to the Benelux was therefore a natural next step. We wanted to increase our brand awareness and strengthen our position in a market where there was already demand for our items.
Why did you choose bol?
For us, bol is the leading marketplace in the Netherlands and Belgium. We already work with other large marketplaces, but we notice that local platforms often have a stronger bond with consumers in their home market. To reach Dutch and Belgian customers effectively and stay top-of-mind, having a presence on bol is essential.
What role has bol played in building trust with Dutch and Belgian customers?
Our activities in the Netherlands have developed particularly well thanks to bol. Although our presence in Belgium is still growing, bol has helped us reach Dutch customers on a much larger scale.
Being present on a trustworthy platform has strengthened customer confidence when buying from an international partner like us.
In your opinion, what is the greatest strength of bol?
Bol enjoys exceptional brand awareness across the Benelux. When consumers in the Netherlands or Belgium are looking for something, bol is often one of the first places they check. The reach of the platform is simply impressive, creating valuable opportunities for partners.
What has surprised you the most since starting on bol?
We mainly sell home decor and thought that our fashion items in particular would perform well, especially in Belgium. In reality, the sales distribution turned out differently than expected, which was an interesting surprise.
Another positive surprise was the level of support provided by bol.
As a non-Dutch company, having access to local expertise and guidance from our account manager was extremely valuable.
What best practice have you learned so far?
A strong onboarding process really makes the difference. Bol guided us brilliantly from the start, helped us improve our content, and supported us in better understanding the Dutch consumer. This collaboration proved to be very valuable for both sides and helped us grow faster and more effectively.
What would you recommend to other partners looking to expand into the Benelux?
If you want to be successful in the Dutch market, I strongly recommend including bol in your expansion strategy. The platform offers unmatched reach and customer trust.
For Belgium, bol can also be very relevant, especially if you are willing to invest in brand awareness and build your brand step by step in this market.
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