Asos marketplace case study: book a demo to start yours

ASOS is a popular online fashion retailer that offers a wide range of clothing, accessories, and beauty products for men and women. If you’d like to start your own marketplace like Asos, you’re facing a buy vs build decision. So before you decide to build it in-house on top of Spree open-source, consider using Vendo, which is the feature-rich Enterprise Edition cutting your time-to-market to a few weeks.

Build vs Buy a marketplace?

There are several positives to using open-source, like having total control and flexibility in development. But, it’s important to remember that these advantages are not without their costs. Building a complete marketplace solution from scratch is a time-consuming and expensive endeavor, often taking many months or years. This insight comes from our experience with multiple marketplace ventures.

If you haven’t received substantial funding, you are likely to benefit more from an integrated marketplace solution such as Vendo, a recommendation from someone who has spent years charging for marketplace development services.

Back to the Asos marketplace case study

ASOS Marketplace, launched in 2010, is an innovative platform within the ASOS umbrella known for revolutionizing online fashion retail. Originally starting as As Seen On Screen, ASOS initially offered clothing inspired by TV and movies but has since expanded significantly.

ASOS Marketplace launched in 2010, has evolved into a formidable force in the fashion e-commerce landscape. This platform is distinctive for providing a space where independent brands, new labels, and vintage sellers can showcase and sell their products.

The Marketplace stands out for its diverse array of over 700 boutiques and brands, offering unique and varied fashion items that cater to a wide range of tastes and preferences. This aspect not only attracts a diverse customer base but also fosters a sense of community among sellers and buyers who share a passion for distinct fashion styles.

ASOS Marketplace differentiates itself from the main ASOS website by offering a more eclectic and personalized shopping experience. While ASOS itself focuses on mainstream fashion, the Marketplace delves into niche segments, offering vintage collections, unique boutique finds, and handcrafted items. This approach has allowed ASOS to cater to a broader audience, encompassing those seeking one-of-a-kind fashion pieces alongside their mainstream offerings.

Financially, ASOS as a whole has seen significant growth, with its revenue reaching £3.26 billion in 2020. The acquisition of prominent brands like Topshop has further strengthened its market position. This growth reflects the increasing consumer shift towards online shopping, a trend that ASOS Marketplace capitalizes on by offering a platform that is not just a shopping destination but also a fashion community.

The ASOS Marketplace’s success can be attributed to its ability to blend the allure of unique, independent fashion with the convenience of online shopping. Its commitment to showcasing a wide range of styles, sizes, and brands aligns with the contemporary consumer’s desire for diversity and inclusivity in fashion.

How to emulate Asos marketplace success?

If you aim to mirror the success of Asos, consider getting your marketplace up and running quickly, within weeks, not months. Assess how your product selection resonates with your audience’s needs. Keep tweaking your methods for gaining customers, using real-world feedback as your guide.

Experiment with the market before you fully invest in building it yourself.

Here’s what you’d be getting with a Vendo free trial:

Book a marketplace demo call: We’ll set up your demo marketplace and populate it with products, so you could give it a try and start selling in 14 days
Customize your Storefront: Use the drag & drop page builder or custom CSS
Onboard Brands: Invite your brands or choose brands from our catalog
Select Products: Curate products and collections manually or automate it
Embed products: Make your content, newsletters, social media shoppable
Get Paid: Get paid as soon as products are shipped by the brands
End-to-end automation: brands sync, fulfillment, payouts, invoicing, taxes

When you’ve tried all that and it works, start thinking about building your own, custom-made marketplace project based on Spree Commerce. First, by decoupling the storefront and going headless with Vendo marketplace API, and later with your own backend, if you decide you really need it. Just lift and shift the storefront.

Nobody has to know what’s under the hood, right?