🛠️ Marketplace Launch in 2025
Bauhaus, the well-known DIY retailer, is launching its online marketplace in mid-2025. This new platform will begin in Germany, a key market with around 150 physical stores. Other European countries like Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, and Austria might join by 2026, but each will decide on its own timeline. Initially, sellers on the marketplace must be German-registered businesses, although there's no need to be a GmbH. A simple VAT registration won't be enough—only fully German-based entities can join.
📦 Seller Independence and Exclusive Listings
The Bauhaus marketplace will operate under an FBM model, meaning sellers manage their own shipping, though they can use services like Amazon's FBA if they choose. Sellers maintain control over pricing and stock levels. Importantly, the first seller to list a product gets exclusive rights to that listing, preventing others, even Bauhaus itself, from offering the same item. This exclusivity could be revisited in the future.
💰 Costs and Platform Features
Participating sellers will pay a monthly fee of €39 (about $41) along with a 12% sales commission. The focus will be solely on DIY categories such as tools, building materials, garden supplies, and more. The marketplace is built on Mirakl's platform, ensuring integration with major European e-commerce systems. From day one, the goal is to make Bauhaus's online presence widely accessible to sellers and customers across Europe.
🌐 Future Integration Plans
Initially, the marketplace will remain separate from Bauhaus’s physical stores, similar to the setup of Kaufland’s e-commerce. However, Bauhaus aims for eventual integration between its physical stores and the online marketplace, offering a unified customer experience. Speculation is rife about other major DIY players considering similar marketplace strategies, which could reshape the competitive landscape in Europe. If Bauhaus’s plans succeed, it might set the stage for a broader trend among traditional retail giants.
Will Bauhaus's exclusive product listings pay off?
