B&Q Launches New Home Improvement Marketplace
Choice is vital for customers when it comes to home improvement, which is why B&Q, the UK’s most recognizable and trusted home improvement retailer, has launched a new online home improvement marketplace, powered by Mirakl.
100,000 new products available within 6 months
Through their new marketplace proposition, B&Q is both expanding existing ranges and adding new categories. Within six months, 100,000 more home improvement products from third-party sellers will be available on B&Q’s existing website diy.com, where the marketplace has been seamlessly integrated. These new products, in addition to the 40,000 products currently sold by B&Q, more than triple the range customers can choose from, with the ambition to offer unparalleled choice with millions of products to be made available through the marketplace.
At launch, customers will already be able to choose from an expanded selection of wallpaper, lighting, and power tools, as well as a new range of small domestic appliances - a new category for B&Q. Over the coming weeks, third-party sellers will bring thousands more new products from a broad range of brands, including Osram, Black & Decker and Breville, while offering competitive prices and fast delivery options.
Offering customers more of the products they want
Marketplaces are growing in popularity, as 68% of UK consumers find online marketplaces the most convenient way to shop.
B&Q has a strong history dating back over 50 years. Today, diy.com is one of the top retail websites in the UK with significant traffic, giving third-party sellers access to a significant new customer base. For B&Q, the launch of a marketplace means diy.com will become even more of a strategic asset to the business, as site traffic grows in line with an increased product offering.
Powered by the Mirakl Marketplace Platform, B&Q's new marketplace will accelerate its eCommerce growth. It will be hosted online at B&Q's website (diy.com) and the B&Q app, offering customers the convenience of a ‘one stop shop’ for home improvement products, hosted by a brand they know and trust. All third-party sellers at diy.com will be selected by B&Q experts. Sellers undergo a verification process to ensure they complement B&Q’s existing offer.
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The seamless, multichannel approach of B&Q's marketplace makes it even easier for customers to shop with both online and in-store benefits. The integration with B&Q’s network of over 300 stores nationwide means customers can conveniently return many items purchased from the marketplace in-store, with Click + Collect options available in the future.
“At B&Q, we’re focused on improving shopping experiences for our customers to make shopping with us even more convenient. Around 85% of our customers’ shopping journeys start online. With the launch of the marketplace, customers can now access an even bigger choice of home improvement products online, with the convenient option to return many products at their local store, with Click + Collect options coming in time. Marketplaces are a rapidly growing retail phenomenon around the world and we’re excited by the potential this model brings in combination with the convenience of our fulfilment capabilities. The unique multichannel combination of this online marketplace, along with our network of 300 stores, means we can offer customers a level of choice, speed and convenience that pure play retailers cannot match.” Graham Bell, CEO, B&Q.
B&Q’s marketplace fully reflects evolving customer demand, with the shift to online and the need for speed, convenience, and choice, and creates a scalable model for Kingfisher, B&Q’s parent company, to roll out marketplaces in other markets and banners. Building the marketplace for B&Q offers UK customers the chance to benefit from broader choice, something that other Kingfisher banners will be able to rollout under this scalable technology platform. Growing eCommerce sales and building a mobile-first and service orientated customer proposition are key parts of the Powered by Kingfisher strategy, which was launched in June 2020 by Kingfisher. Other examples of eCommerce initiatives launched by Kingfisher across the wider Group include one minute Click + Collect services and faster home delivery.
To start your own marketplace journey today, contact the Mirakl Team.
