The end of summer brings not only changes in the weather but also interesting news from the eCommerce industry. This autumn promises new features on Allegro, Poland's largest marketplace - specifically, a new search system designed to enhance the shopping experience and boost sales on the platform. What else has happened recently in eCommerce? Find more interesting information below in the 78th edition of Advox's Press Release. Check it out and stay updated!
Why aren't returned products put back on sale?
According to the latest data published by Ben-Gurion University, as much as 44% of returned clothing and accessories in Europe never make it back to the market. This presents yet another challenge for eCommerce owners. Why don't these products re-enter circulation?
The primary reason for this phenomenon is the high costs associated with processing returns. This includes the need for re-inspection, refreshing the products, or even discarding them due to damages. As a result, instead of returning to the market, many products end up in warehouses or, in some cases, are even disposed of.
Currently, nearly 300,000 returned clothing items and accessories are involved. Half of them are recycled, a quarter ends up in landfills, and one-seventh is incinerated. The remainder is lost in the entire process.
This situation not only places a financial burden on sellers but also negatively impacts the environment. Consequently, the eCommerce industry faces the urgent need to find new solutions to effectively manage returns and reduce the number of unsold products.
Allegro introduces changes to product search - for better or worse?
Starting from October 1, 2024, Allegro - the biggest polish marketplace is rolling out changes to its product search functionality. While the new approach may not seem revolutionary at first glance, it has already sparked significant debate among users.
Previously, searching on Allegro displayed all listings from all sellers that matched the entered keywords. However, this often led to duplicate listings of the same products with varying prices or slightly different descriptions, making it more time-consuming and challenging to find the best deal.
In response to this issue, Allegro has decided to shift to what is known as product-based search. Now, listings will be grouped under specific products, aiming to simplify and speed up the shopping process. This feature was previously available as an optional setting by clicking the "combine offers" button, but from October, it will become the default search method.
Despite positive feedback, the new interface has also faced criticism. Some users are concerned that grouping products could lead to mismatched items being combined, and that the entire search process may feel less intuitive than before.
Will the new solution gain user acceptance? We’ll find out in the coming months as the changes are fully implemented on the platform.
Will the new solution gain user acceptance? We’ll find out in the coming months as the changes are fully implemented on the platform.
Summer in eCommerce - how did sales perform in July 2024?
Online sales in Poland grew by over 16% in July 2024 compared to the previous year. This is one of the key findings from the latest report by BaseLinker, which tracks the health of the eCommerce industry month by month. What else does the report reveal?
- 73% of Poles made an online purchase during the summer period.
- The average order value increased by 12% compared to last year (2023).
- The most popular categories were clothing (40% of orders), electronics (25% of orders), and cosmetics and health (20% of orders).
- 58% of online transactions were made via mobile devices, representing an 8% increase compared to 2023.
The report indicates that the eCommerce market in Poland is not only maintaining its dynamic growth but is also gaining importance during periods traditionally considered less active for sales, such as the summer holidays.
Interested in these topics? Learn more:
Inefficient returns in the fashion industry
Changes on the Allegro marketplace
Baselinker report
