Crate and Barrel Launches E-Commerce Marketplace
Home furnishings retailer Crate and Barrel announced today the launch of its Exclusive Marketplace, a curated marketplace offering consumers a broader selection of products based on Crate and Barrel's merchandising expertise. Available via the company's e-commerce site, the marketplace now offers customers an extended aisle of unique products, such as kitchen tools and other small appliances. To launch the marketplace, Crate and Barrel has partnered with RevCascade, a marketplace automation platform. Products will be sold on the marketplace site, but will not be shipped or handled by Crate and Barrel.
Total Retail’s Take: Crate and Barrel isn't the first retailer to take a page from Amazon.com in partnering with outside sellers to boost the number of items available to shoppers on its website. Wal-Mart, Macy’s and Bluefly are just three of the many retailers that have launched — and found success with — marketplaces.
Melissa Campanelli is Editor-in-Chief of Total Retail. She is an industry veteran, having covered all aspects of retail, tech, digital, e-commerce, and marketing over the past 20 years. Melissa is also the co-founder of the Women in Retail Leadership Circle.
