Glossary
What is a marketplace? E-commerce definition
June 4, 2026
A marketplace (online market place) is a platform that connects sellers and buyers. The consumer buys on a single site (Amazon, Etsy, eBay, Cdiscount marketplace…); several merchants offer their products via listing sheets. The platform generally manages traffic, trust, payment and sometimes logistics, in exchange for a marketplace commission on each sale.
Summary
Simple definition: marketplace
On a marketplace, you are not just a customer of the platform (as with Shopify): you are also a seller on the territory of an operator who sets the rules, fees, and the overall buying experience.
Key elements of the model:
Multi-seller: multiple merchants offer products on the same site.; Product listing: page with title, images, price, reviews (often standardized by the platform).; Centralized payment: the buyer pays the marketplace, which disburses to the seller (minus commission).
Seller rules: shipping SLAs, return policy, allowed content, anti-counterfeiting.; Commission: platform's compensation per sale (commission details).; Optional logistics: FBA (Amazon), marketplace fulfillment.
Major examples: Amazon (marketplace + Amazon 1P sales), Etsy (crafts, creators), eBay (auctions and fixed price), Walmart Marketplace, Fnac/Darty marketplace, Cdiscount marketplace, Rakuten, Allegro (Eastern Europe).
Useful distinctions:
Marketplace vs online store: the store is your storefront (domain, brand); the marketplace belongs to the third party.; Marketplace vs D2C: D2C sells directly on an owned channel; the marketplace interposes the platform.; Marketplace vs B2C e-commerce: B2C is broad (any sale to the consumer); the marketplace is a specific channel model.
3P marketplace vs 1P retail: on Amazon, "sold by Amazon" = Amazon buys and resells; "sold by X" = third-party seller on the marketplace.; Marketplace vs price comparison engine: the comparison engine redirects; the marketplace completes the transaction on site.; Marketplace vs Shopify: Shopify is a platform to create your store; Amazon/Etsy are marketplaces where you list your products.
The benefits of a marketplace for an online store
Marketplaces concentrate a major share of global e-commerce. For a merchant, they offer immediate traffic but impose strong constraints.
Visibility: millions of buyers are already searching on the platform (high purchase intent).; Trust: secure payment, reviews, return policy known to the consumer.; Acquisition: alternative or complement to Meta/Google ads (customer acquisition).; Volume: testing a SKU, clearing stock, entering a foreign market.
Commission and margin: cost per sale which reduces the margin vs own site.; Limited data: customer email is often restricted; less direct brand relationship.; Platform dependency: algo changes, account suspension, price war.; Competition: same product page, counterfeits, battle of reviews and prices.
Frequent strategy: marketplace for discovery and volume, Shopify site for margin, data, and loyalty (recurring customers). The balance depends on the sector, the product margin, and the brand strength.
Using with Shopify
Shopify is not a marketplace in the Amazon sense: it is your e-commerce hub. You can connect external marketplaces to it as additional sales channels.
Amazon by Shopify Channel: publish listings from the admin (depending on the country).; Connector apps: Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Walmart, TikTok Shop.; Centralized orders: marketplace sales visible in Shopify Orders.
Unified stock: avoid overselling between the site and the marketplace.; Reports: turnover by channel in Shopify Analytics.
Typical hybrid merchant workflow:
Build the catalog on Shopify (product source of truth).; Open a marketplace seller account (KYC, categories).; Publish listings via integration; adapt titles/images to platform rules.
Calculate pricing including commission and logistics.; Ship and push back tracking (fulfillment).; Migrate customers to owned site (email, insert, loyalty program).
Shopify Documentation: Shopify Help Center (Sales channels).
In brief
Marketplace = multi-vendor platform connecting buyers and online merchants.; Examples: Amazon, Etsy, eBay, retail marketplaces FR.; Distinct from online shop, D2C, Shopify (hub) and retail 1P.
Pros: traffic, trust; cons: commission, data, dependency.; Frequent hybrid strategy: marketplace + owned Shopify site.; Commission and integration: dedicated glossary sheets.
Associated terms, FAQ, and going further
Associated terms
Marketplace commission: cost per sale on the platform.
Marketplace integration: Shopify / Amazon / Etsy sync.
Sales channel: marketplace vs own shop.
D2C: direct sales, complementary or alternative model.
Online store: merchant\'s owned showcase.
FAQ
Marketplace and e-commerce: same thing?
No. E-commerce refers to any online sale. A marketplace is a type of platform where multiple sellers sell to buyers. Your Shopify store is e-commerce, not a marketplace (unless you open a multi-vendor marketplace yourself).
Is Amazon a marketplace?
Yes, largely. Amazon combines 1P sales (Amazon buys and resells) and 3P marketplace (third-party sellers). The majority of units sold comes from the marketplace model in many markets.
Is it better to choose Etsy or Shopify?
They are not mutually exclusive. Etsy brings maker traffic and community; Shopify offers brand control, margin, and data. Many creators use Etsy for discovery and Shopify for loyalty creation.
Can you survive solely on a marketplace?
Yes, some sellers do, but the risk of platform dependency (rule changes, suspension, price competition) drives many brands to build their own site in parallel.
Going further
Sources: Shopify Help Center (Sales channels), Amazon Seller Central seller documentation, Etsy Seller Handbook.
Enzo
13 May 2026
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