The Rise of Vertical-Specific Marketplaces: A Game-Changer in E-commerce By Janifha Evangeline

The Rise of Vertical-Specific Marketplaces: A Game-Changer in E-commerce

Janifha Evangeline | Sunday, 24 September 2023, 11:55 IST

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Change is the only attribute that the market requires to be functional. The market has been evolving continuously since very early in history. The multi-mega shops changed how people shop, despite the fact that they were highly well-liked a few decades ago. The mega stores addressed the significant issues with needing to spend a significant amount of time and effort shopping for various things at numerous retailers. The general public saved time and money by using the one-stop solution. The e-commerce industry has further alleviated this issue by removing the need for consumers to leave their homes and enabling them to enjoy shopping from the convenience of their living rooms. The industry as a whole has been in change, with the e-commerce sector experiencing the fastest growth to date. The formula for success used by horizontal marketplace, a physical mega store, does not seem to apply to the e-commerce business. Specialty websites (vertical marketplaces) that exclusively provide one service or solution are taking over the market. That too has a valid justification. The first factor is the need to shift from horizontal marketplace.

When consumers do not have to physically walk to the market, it actually doesn't matter if they shop from one place or 10 for their various needs, according to obvious logic. For each unique demand, all that is required is that you enter a different URL into the search engine. Despite less work being put in, the rewards are enormous.

Customers looking at unique offering

The needs of today's consumers are distinctive and special. Everyone wants their buying experience to be somewhat customized and personal. Their precise needs are met without being diverted by other offerings by the growing niche market in the e-commerce space. It goes without saying that a new mother would choose babyoye.com or firstcry.com over any giant brand online store if she needed assistance with parenting-related difficulties.

Customers' experiences on LatestOne.com indicate that customers are satisfied with the type of product selection and level of customer care we provide at such specialized online stores for mobile and tech accessories. It's reasonable to believe that the focus of large, powerful online portals is diverted by the sheer size of the platform, leaving the unique demands of customers unmet. On the other hand, single window online stores put all of their efforts into discovering and developing distinctive solutions for a specific area of need. While specialist portals are more value-based, broad-based players are more volume-based. It is obvious that a single consumer should be highly satisfied with the purchase they make, and that the large volumes generated by huge internet retailers are useless to them.

Improvised customer experience

The quality of the shopping experience has increased thanks to the single window model of the internet market. Such specialized internet retailers have provided a strong value proposition across many markets. For instance, Lenskart.com is a fantastic portal with a huge selection of glasses and frames, both branded and unbranded, to suit the various preferences of people all over the country. Every third person in the nation requires glasses, thus it makes sense to meet this demand on an individual basis. The current consumer is well-informed about his wants, and the availability of a specialized and expert service is highly praised.

Vertical marketplace provides opportunity to new startups:

Due to the enormous success that these specialist portals are predicting, many VCs are willing to fund these incredible concepts. Venture investors have noticed that future internet shoppers are savvy and will choose their unique offerings over becoming sidetracked by a plethora of brands, products, and deals, the bulk of which are useless. Numerous customized selling portals that provide a special solution to consumer needs have flooded the market. In their respective specialized markets, well-known brands include Pepperfry.com for furniture, LatestOne.com for tech and mobile accessories, Lenskart.com for eyewear, Bluestone.com for gold and diamond jewelry, hobbyideas.com for creative supplies, and many more. 

The success of these businesses has inspired additional start-ups to increase their scale. These innovative ideas are ready to be implemented, and many minds are working on them. They have the ability to unlock the market's untapped potential. When supporting brilliant concepts, serious venture investors have more confidence because of their preparedness. The profitability of this market is a significant additional aspect in the high attention of financiers. The ease of use makes it a less complicated and tiresome process. The costs of development and maintenance are quite low. Here, a clear and precise need should be taken into account.

The niche is the online marketing fad of the future. Numerous VCs and even famous people are willing to support and fund such projects. Soon, there will be a fierce competition for the top spot in the specialized market. The niche market's deliverables are straightforward but require ongoing update. The wide reach of these portals will guarantee the availability of branded, high-quality goods in even the most isolated regions of the country. The customized solutions will also help the tier 2 and tier 3 cities, who should take full advantage of them.

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