Our purpose
We entend to provide policymakers with the perspective of our classifieds sector, including its contribution to circular consumption and economic growth in local communities.
Bringing Europeans closer together
Classifieds Marketplaces Europe is a coalition of EU-headquartered companies operating online classifieds platforms that connect buyers and sellers to safely, easily and conveniently exchange goods and services in their local communities.
We aim to develop awareness of the positive impact of online classifieds marketplaces on the environment, local businesses and our communities.
What are Classifieds marketplaces?
Classifieds help to connect buyers and sellers of a wide range of goods and services: from furniture to fashion, from cars to collectibles, from real estate to jobs.
There are two types of online classifieds marketplaces: generalist online marketplaces where there is a wide variety of trade in different goods and services categories and specialist online marketplaces where the trade happens in only one product category.
The business model of online classifieds is generally based on insertion fees to post the listing (mostly free for consumer sellers), feature fees to give more exposure to a listing, subscription fees and display advertising.
Generalist online marketplaces:
Specialist online marketplaces:
From newspapers to cutting-edge tech
Classifieds are an ever-evolving form of person-to-person trade. Starting out as handouts on walls and pillars, they eventually found a home in newspapers. Browsing the classifieds pages became a part of people’s daily lives, allowing them to buy and sell services and second-hand goods in their local communities.
As the internet changed the world, classifieds moved online too. Startups launched new platforms, while established publishers transformed their services into digital.
Today this ancient form of trade has become a digital industry, leveraging the power of technology to improve lives and create a sustainable economy.
Classifieds helps to connect buyers and sellers of a wide range of goods and services: from furniture to fashion, from cars to collectibles, from real estate to jobs. There are two types of online classifieds marketplaces: generalist online marketplaces where there is a wide variety of trade in different goods and services categories and specialist online marketplaces where the trade happens in only one product category. The business model of online classifieds is generally based on insertion fees to post the listing (mostly free for consumer sellers), feature fees to give more exposure to a listing, subscription fees and display advertising.
Our members aim to create a secure online matchmaking environment for consumers and (small) business sellers to connect in a safe and successful manner. Sellers are fully in control of the listings they post and the subsequent transactions. They are free to choose how they close the deal, including payment and delivery methods ranging from in-person trading to using an online mechanism from third-party services.
While at its core we connect consumers to consumers (C2C) to trade with each other, classifieds marketplaces are also used by (small) businesses to reach (new) customers (B2C). Although our online platforms are globally accessible, most exchanges occur at the local level and in local languages. Due to our local anchoring, we are successfully collaborating with local authorities to fight illegal content and unlawful activities.
The origin of online classifieds lies in the resale and reuse of goods and still today, the majority of trade via our platforms is in second-hand goods between private individuals. Circular consumption and extending the lifespan of products is in our DNA. By giving previously owned goods a new purpose, we help to extend the lifecycle of products and allow consumers to make a positive impact.
