Table of Contents
- What are the VirtualExpo Shops?
- Why did we add a Shop?
- How will the Shop work with the Exhibition?
- Who can sell on the Shop?
- What is the business model of the Shop?
- How will the Shop complement my presence on the Exhibition?
- As a manufacturer, can I access how many sales of my products were made by other sellers on the Shop?
- How has VirtualExpo developed the Shop?
- I want to know more!
What are the VirtualExpo Shops?
VirtualExpo is proud to announce the launch of a major new service on each of its 6 marketplaces: the Shop. The Shop will work in parallel with the existing websites to enable professional buyers to purchase certain types of products directly online. The roll-out will begin in September on DirectIndustry France and continue into the winter and the new year in Germany, Italy and Spain across all six marketplaces.
Why did we add a Shop?
B2B online sourcing is evolving extremely quickly. For simple purchases, professionals now want the ease of B2C style e-commerce; for complex projects they still and will always need the B2B “human-touch” of discussing things with an expert. By providing both options under one roof, our marketplace ensures maximum retention of your target audience, whether they are immediate buyers or future qualified prospects. Join us in redefining the marketplace for B2B!
How will the Shop work with the Exhibition?
On VirtualExpo’s marketplaces, the Shop service will always complement the Exhibition, not replace it. Buyers will continue to navigate the Exhibition as before, but when a product is available for purchase on the Shop, a message will appear on the product page inviting them to view the offers. This means buyers can choose based on their needs and either send a quote request via the Exhibition or click to make a purchase on the Shop.
Who can sell on the Shop?
Our priority is to ensure that buyers are happy with their purchasing experience. This is why, during the initial launch phase, only sellers with proven experience in B2B e-commerce can sell on the Shop. This means:
- The seller has their own e-commerce website and/or sells on other B2B marketplaces
- The seller can share a digitalized version of their catalog to facilitate automatic updating of stock and offers
- The seller only promotes quality brands and products that meet the standards of the B2B marketplace
Manufacturers, distributors and resellers that meet these criteria are all potentially eligible to sell on the Shop. If that includes you, don’t hesitate to contact your account manager for more details.
What is the business model of the Shop?
The Shop is designed to enhance your performance on the Exhibition. This is why it’s based on a simple sales-commission that complements your annual subscription at no extra cost. Since this complementarity is key to creating value for buyers, we have also put together a special pack to incentivize suppliers on the Exhibition who also want to sell on the Shop. If you are eligible, contact your account manager for more information.
How will the Shop complement my presence on the Exhibition?
The Shop and the Exhibition will complement one another by retaining more of your potential buyers on the marketplace no matter what their preferred sourcing method is. As a result, even if you cannot sell via the Shop, the Shop will still be beneficial to your overall performance:
- Sales: Buyers will only be invited to access the Shop when your product is available for purchase. Therefore, by linking from the product page on the exhibition, the Shop will enable professional buyers who are ready to purchase to do so rather than leave frustrated.
- Requests: Buyers cannot contact sellers via the Shop unless they make a purchase. If they need to discuss something with an expert, they can send you a request via the product page on the Exhibition.
- Visitors: Over time the Shop will generate its own SEO via the major search engines. This will become a new source of indirect visitors to the Exhibition side of the marketplace.
Rome was not built in a day. We are confident, however, that these benefits will appear incrementally as they are based on solid buyer research and macro evolutions in market dynamics.
As a manufacturer, can I access how many sales of my products were made by other sellers on the Shop?
VirtualExpo is currently developing the ability to provide anonymized sales reports for the transactions made via the Shop for each manufacturer’s brand. We cannot yet commit to a specific date, but in the meantime we will try to provide you with these figures upon request!
How has VirtualExpo developed the Shop?
VirtualExpo has partnered with some of the world’s leading e-commerce specialists. Their expertise will enable us to seamlessly coordinate the Shop and the Exhibition and deliver a world-class, secure buyer experience.
I want to know more!
It’s important to us that our clients understand the changes we are putting in place and share our vision. Our Shop team would be happy to set up a video call to explain the strategy and roadmap as well as answer any questions you might have. Please contact your account manager and ask them to set up a call!
