Ahold has announced plans to open up its recently acquired bol.com website.
The retailing giant said that it is allowing the online retail site to function as an open marketplace. In a statement, Ahold said that it will allow any retailer – with a VAT number and is registered with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce – to sell their products on bol.com. This will give the sellers access to 3.5 million customers.
Bol.com will also cover items offered by other retailers that it already sells on its website. The move will give Bol.com’s customers greater options in terms of product range, availability and value, said the retailer. With shoppers carrying out competitor price monitoring online and using this pricing intelligence when making the final purchasing decision, having other sellers’ products for sale on the website is a smart move by the retailer.
“Our aim is to give customers the widest possible choice at all times, both in terms of range in all our specialist stores, and in terms of value, availability, and swift delivery,” said the company. “Customers will find specialist product ranges that weren’t previously available at bol.com.” The company expects around 25,000 items to be added to its product offering within the next few months.
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Pricing intelligence company Profitero works with retailers and manufacturers to help them increase sales and maximise their profits by using competitor price, promotions and stock information at scale. For more information on Profitero price intelligence and competitor monitoring, visit www.profitero.com or email sales@profitero.com.
