Bol.com has been described as the Amazon of the Netherlands (it even started as an online bookstore) – it is the biggest ecommerce site in the country. Much the same as Amazon, it also sells direct retail and facilitates third party sellers. Currently (and with no signs of change), Bol.com ships only to the Netherlands and Belgium. Despite the small geographical area, in 2019 it saw revenue of 2.8 billion euros – a 33% year on year increase.
It is yet to be seen what effect of the introduction of Amazon.nl will have on Bol.com, and how attached the Dutch consumer is to the brand. The Dutch tend to prefer to buy from local companies rather than international sellers; not only is Bol.com a household name, it offers Dutch payment methods and is completely in Dutch (with a French site being introduced later this year). However, when Amazon first announced its launch in the country, Bol responded by launching their largest missing category: men’s and women’s fashion.
LvB is Bol.com’s own fulfillment service – until 2019 they only had one warehouse but have since opened more due to rapid growth. Customers get a wide variety of free delivery options: next day, evening only, Sunday, same day, 2 hour and pick up points. From a seller perspective the benefits are also compelling: Bol.com takes care of returns and all customer service. Additionally, using LvB is said to increase conversion by 30%.
There are a few restrictions on products eligible for LvB:
The site provides a handy fee calculator to compare LvB costs to your own logistics setup.
Bol.com offers a number of advertising options. Sponsored products and banner ads are available, similar to other marketplaces. Additionally, Bol.com also offers targeted mail campaigns using their customer data to reach your target group. Furthermore, you can also purchase online magazine ads, either in the form of a traditional advert or in editorial form.
Are you interested in selling on Bol.com and looking for support? Do you want to know more about the opportunities for your business on Bol.com? Get in touch today and drop us an email: sales@richinsight.co.uk.