"Success comes from understanding local differences and responding to them."

After successful growth on several European marketplaces, Jeel Online expanded into the Benelux via bol. Gökhan Dağcı and Dilara Cubukcu share why they chose bol, how the platform helped build trust with local customers, and what lessons they learned during their growth in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Why was the Benelux region the logical next step for your international growth?

The Benelux was a natural next step for us due to its proximity to Germany and the strong market potential we saw here. We were already active on multiple marketplaces in Europe and knew that the Benelux offered attractive opportunities for further growth. The strong reputation of bol and the trust that Dutch and Belgian consumers have in the platform made this market especially interesting for us.

Why did you choose bol?

bol is one of the strongest shopping platforms in the Benelux and enjoys exceptionally high brand awareness among Dutch and Belgian consumers. As an international partner, we felt it was important to work with a platform that customers already know and trust. In addition, we noticed that Dutch consumers have different buying habits and expectations than German consumers. Bol helps us better understand this local market thanks to the available insights and data.

What role did bol play in building trust among Dutch and Belgian customers?

Trust is crucial when entering a new market. Because bol is already an established and trusted platform, we were able to build credibility with local customers right from the start.

What do you see as bol's greatest strength?

Bol combines a loyal customer base with a very user-friendly platform. We especially appreciate how easy it is to reach the support team via live chat. This allows us to resolve questions and challenges quickly. The platform makes it easy to manage our operations while keeping the focus on customer satisfaction.

What surprised you most after going live via bol?

One of the biggest surprises was the quality of the Partnerplatform dashboard. Compared to many marketplaces in Germany, it is very intuitive and offers detailed, up-to-date reports and insights. It also quickly became clear that Dutch consumers have high expectations. That encourages partners to create strong content and provide a high level of service.

What key lesson have you learned so far?

Fast and responsive customer service can really make the difference. We also learned that it is essential to tailor your product range to the local market.

What advice would you give to other partners who want to expand into the Benelux?

Take the time to understand the local culture and customer expectations. Search behaviour and keywords can differ greatly from other markets, making localization very important. Make sure that content is complete, correct, and improved for the local audience. Make use of the insights and data that bol provides, invest in excellent customer service, and be patient. Building a successful position in the Netherlands and Belgium takes time, but the opportunities are more than worth the investment.