Did you catch our recent Beyond Threads webinar on the power of online marketplaces for emerging fashion brands? In this latest Beyond Threads podcast episode, we dive even deeper on the topic – exploring how fashion brands can strategically integrate e-commerce marketplaces into a seamless omnichannel fulfilment model.
Press play to hear from Bleckmann experts Erik Janssen Steenberg and Steven de Bruin, who are joined by Asa Sarel, Co-founder of cross-border B2B platform Global Bridge. Learn how Bleckmann’s collaboration with Global Bridge is helping brands to simplify and scale access to leading online marketplaces – unlocking smarter global expansion.
The benefits of online marketplaces for fashion brands
For fashion brands looking to scale, marketplaces are a powerful tool within an omnichannel fulfilment strategy. They enable brands to expand into international markets without the overhead of physical retail operation, offering a fast-track route to global growth.
Marketplaces also enhance visibility, especially for emerging or independent labels with smaller audiences for their own e-commerce sites. By reaching new audiences and diversifying sales channels, brands can reduce their reliance on a single platform – mitigating risk and improving resilience in the face of shifting consumer behaviour.
The challenges of expanding your brand with marketplaces
While marketplaces offer significant growth opportunities, implementing a successful expansion strategy within an omnichannel fulfilment model comes with its own set of challenges. For example, brands must maintain consistency in product listings, pricing and customer service across multiple platforms – ensuring a cohesive and reliable shopping experience wherever customers choose to engage.
Meanwhile, logistics and fulfilment can also prove challenging. Brands must determine whether to manage international shipping in-house or partner with local fulfilment providers to optimise delivery times and costs. In addition, returns management adds another layer of complexity, with inefficiencies quickly leading to mounting costs and operational delays. Finally, robust technological integration is essential. Seamless IT connections with marketplace platforms and customs systems are critical to ensure real-time visibility, compliance and uninterrupted omnichannel fulfilment flows.
Introducing Global Bridge: A unique marketplace solution
Global Bridge presents an innovative solution to many of the challenges associated with marketplace expansion. As Asa Sarel explains, Global Bridge is a fully integrated, cross-border B2B platform designed to simplify marketplace onboarding and streamline omnichannel fulfilment for fashion brands.
One of Global Bridge’s standout advantages the seamless marketplace integration it offers brands, enabling immediate access to over 500 premium marketplaces worldwide. This eliminates the time-consuming onboarding processes that can typically slow down market entry – meaning you can see your brand on premium platforms such as Macy’s, Zalando, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom in a matter of months.
Another standout feature of the solution is its end-to-end logistics capability, delivered in partnership with Bleckmann. Our collaboration enables brands to benefit from a comprehensive fulfilment infrastructure – including warehousing, international shipping and returns management – within a single, scalable framework.
But what really sets Global Bridge apart is its pay-as-you-sell model, which removes the need for significant upfront investment. This makes global expansion more accessible and less risky for growing brands. In addition, the platform ensures full control and visibility over sales data, providing the transparency and actionable insights needed to drive smarter decisions across the omnichannel fulfilment journey.
Marketplaces: The future of fashion retail?
E-commerce marketplaces are firmly establishing themselves as a cornerstone of modern fashion retail. Offering unmatched agility and adaptability, they empower brands to respond swiftly to evolving consumer expectations and accelerate growth. As Erik notes, they not only drive traffic but also deliver unmatched flexibility, cementing their role as a key sales channel within any robust omnichannel fulfilment strategy.
And while the path to marketplace integration can seem complex, platforms like Global Bridge are streamlining the journey for brands. By simplifying onboarding, logistics and data management, they enable brands to tap into the potential of marketplaces with greater ease and confidence. As retail continues to shift toward platform-driven models, brands that embrace marketplaces as part of their omnichannel fulfilment approach will be best positioned to scale and thrive in a fast-changing fashion industry.
Curious to find out how e-commerce marketplaces could accelerate your brand’s global growth? Press play on the latest episode of the Beyond Threads podcast or get in contact today for a free consultation with a Bleckmann expert!
