The e-commerce landscape is becoming more competitive by the day.
As such, e-commerce store owners need to find innovative ways to stand out from the crowd.
One platform that made this possible, especially for smaller players, was Wanelo. However, now that the online shopping giant is no longer operating, you might be interested in finding the best alternatives to Wanelo.
What Was Wanelo?
Wanelo was a social media platform designed to operate as a digital shopping mall. The name was derived from the phrase “want, need, love.”
Launched in 2012 by Deena Varshavskaya and headquartered in San Francisco, Wanelo was the silver bullet online sellers were looking for.
What made the Wanelo app so popular?
The answer is simple. It made it easy to shop from many different stores, all in one place.
Let’s face it. Looking for something in a mall is a lot of hard work. Not finding what you’re looking for at one mall and having to visit another is an inconvenience we’ve probably all experienced.
Wanelo was designed to save users from those scenarios.
Users could shop for anything they wanted right from their mobile devices. Due to how it attracted crowds of shoppers, the platform quickly became popular, with Wanelo’s site boasting as many as 11 million active users.
What made Wanelo so attractive to online sellers was that most visitors to the site spend close to an hour browsing, with most of them intending to make a purchase.
Because of that, Wanelo was a conversion machine that quickly became a seller’s paradise. According to Wanelo, some stores reported seeing as many as four times the conversions they got on popular social media platforms like Facebook.
Finding Apps Similar to Wanelo
In the digital age we’re living in, people are always on the move.
Because of that, they rely on apps to help them get things done more efficiently. That’s why apps like Wanelo became very popular; their ease of use and accessibility made it simple for users to purchase products on the go or from the comfort of their homes.
For sellers, this gave them access to a huge market.
However, Wanelo’s recent decline has made it necessary for online sellers to look elsewhere for the services Wanelo provided.
So, how do you determine which app will help you sell your products fast?
Consider the Number of Users
One of the very first things you must look at as you search for a Wanelo alternative is the number of users the app has. The more active users on the platform, the higher your chances are of selling more products.
Read Customer Reviews
Another consideration to take into account is what the users are saying. One key to success in the e-commerce is your brand reputation. If your store is on a platform that users rate poorly, it could negatively impact your brand’s reputation by extension.
Investigate the Company Behind the App
To ensure you don’t waste time and resources setting up shop on a platform that will end up being unreliable, you must do your homework first. Find out who’s behind the app and whether they have a proven track record.
Now that you know what to look out for as you shop around for a Wanelo alternative, let’s quickly look at some of the best on the market.
Top Alternatives to Wanelo You Need to Know (And Leverage)
Although Wanelo is no longer active, there are many other social shopping sites out there that you can leverage as an e-commerce store owner.
In fact, new apps geared toward making it easier for online sellers to move their products faster are coming out every day.
Here are the top alternatives to Wanelo you should consider:
Geek
A subsidiary of one of the biggest online shopping platforms, Wish, Geek comes very close to giving you the Wanelo experience.
As a merchant, this helps you make your store and products more visible. That’s especially true considering the Geek app has been downloaded more than 10 million times on the Google Play Store alone.
To start selling on Geek, you must apply to be a merchant by visiting the Wish registration page and setting up your store. Selling on Geek is free. However, the platform charges a commission of up to 15 percent on the products you sell.
A few benefits you get by listing your store on Geek include:
- Easy integration with social media
- Access to a massive international audience
- Powerful marketing tools
With your store listed on Geek, the chances of increasing your sales are high. It’s definitely a Wanelo alternative you should consider.
Shopkick
Founded in 2010 in Redwood, California, Shopkick is an app that offers users rewards for their online and in-store activities.
So how can you leverage this app to drive sales and grow your business?
With its reward system, Shopkick helps you increase sales by attracting new customers to your stores.
That’s not all, though. The Shopkick platform also helps you:
- Drive brand awareness
- Shift the market share from your competitors to your favor
- Encourage repeat purchases and increase customer lifetime value (CLV)
One of the main reasons many big brands and independent sellers rely on Shopkick is that it’s great to ensure profit margins stay healthy. This is because the platform allows you to increase sales without the need for discounts or coupons.
With Shopkick, you can be assured of driving customer loyalty. As you probably know, customer loyalty is a major ingredient for growth, particularly in a competitive market.
Zulily
Another great Wanelo alternative to consider as a merchant is Zulily.
Zulily was originally established as a platform specializing in selling children’s clothing online. However, over the years, the platform has become a marketplace that attracts 5 million diverse shoppers.
Interested in leveraging this platform to boost your sales? Maybe this stat will further convince you: the company boasts net sales of over $1 billion.
Zulily has become a force to reckon with in the e-commerce world. Some of the benefits of Zulily include:
- Design tools: Zulily makes it easy for you to display your products professionally using their design tools suite.
- Free marketing: No need to worry about marketing as Zulily takes care of it for you.
- Analytics dashboard: Get access to detailed and real-time sales information.
No matter your online store’s size, Zulily is a great marketplace to get your products in front of the right people. Particularly if you’re new to the world of e-commerce, Zulily would be a great place to list your store as the playing field is level.
With 15,000 merchants onboard, there’s still time for you to sign up and be among the early adopters. As an early adopter, you could be able to grow a good following before the marketplace becomes saturated.
Overstock
Overstock was founded in 1999 as a store selling surplus and returned products, hence the name. However, as the world of e-commerce evolved and grew, the brand made the wise decision to move with the times.
Today, Overstock is an online retailer that sells various products in almost every category via its merchant base. A couple of advantages to partnering with Overstock as a merchant are:
- Brand exposure: With millions of users and an email list running into the millions, Overstock makes it easy for you to get noticed.
- Fast shipping: Overstock has a vast network of freight and consignment services that help you fulfill your orders expeditiously.
- Detailed analytics: Detailed reports help you keep track of every purchase and help you fine-tune your marketing strategy.
Selling on Overstock is simple. All you have to do is apply to be a merchant. Once approved, you can set up your account and start merchandising your products. Overstock makes it easy to sell your products because you can manage orders and fulfilments from the platform.
If you’re looking for a Wanelo alternative that can help you boost sales, Overstock is probably it.
ZALORA
ZALORA is an online selling platform founded in 2012 that specializes in apparel and lifestyle products. Initially popular in Asia, the platform has grown in popularity worldwide and has become an international brand that boasts over 10 million downloads of its app.
With a large customer base, listing your store on ZALORA is a no-brainer.
Apart from the large number of users you can reach on the platform, other benefits from using ZALORA include:
- The ability to personalize your storefront
- The freedom to set prices at your discretion
- Access to ZALORA’s fast delivery services
- Advanced data analytics
Like Overstock, setting up your store on ZALORA is a simple process. First, you apply to become a merchant and, once accepted, you can start setting up your storefront. From there, upload your product images and descriptions, and you’re ready to start selling.
When it comes to fees, you can expect ZALORA to take a commission that ranges from 10 to 30 percent, depending on the products you’re selling. If a customer returns your product, you’ll also incur extra charges.
Conclusion
To succeed in the e-commerce space, you must pull all the stops.
Besides having an effective marketing strategy, you must find platforms and tools to help you move your products faster.
Wanelo’s demise does not spell the end of e-commerce success for those who relied on it. There are numerous Wanelo alternatives you can leverage to boost your sales.
It becomes easier to drive customer engagement and loyalty as the patrons of these platforms usually rely on them to find deals and make shopping easier.
Have you ever used any of the Wanelo alternatives listed above?
The post 5 Alternatives to Wanelo appeared first on Neil Patel.
