BHETA is to host a member webinar with Castorama, helping BHETA supplier members to gain first-hand insight into one of Europe’s growing home improvement marketplaces.  

The event, entitled Opportunities with Castorama Marketplace takes place on 18th September and will be apractical webinar offering businesses an insight into the scale and potential of Castorama’s rapidly developing marketplace. For brands considering international growth, the scale of Castorama’s development makes understanding how the platform operates, and what Castorama looks for from marketplace partners, particularly relevant.

Taking place from 9.30am to 10.30am, the session will feature Bernard Dieng, Head of Business Development at Castorama, who will share insight into the marketplace, its role within Castorama’s wider digital strategy and the opportunities available to brands looking to reach new customers and grow their online sales. Bernard has more than 10 years’ experience and leads business development for the marketplace. As a strategic part of Castorama’s digital transformation and long-term growth ambitions, the marketplace is an important area of focus for the retailer. Bernard will provide attendees with a closer look at how the platform is developing and where businesses can identify opportunities.  

The session will cover:

• The scale of the Castorama Marketplace and its position within the retailer’s e-commerce strategy.
• What makes the marketplace an attractive channel for brands and suppliers.
• How the platform works and what businesses should consider when establishing or expanding their presence.
• How to position products for success on the marketplace.
• Practical guidance on making the most of the opportunity and growing online sales.
• The wider commercial opportunity for businesses looking to reach new customers through Castorama.

Castorama is France’s leading home improvement retailer and part of the Kingfisher Group, the European home improvement group behind brands including B&Q. According to BHETA, Castorama has more than 93 stores, over 11,000 colleagues and annual revenue of around £2 billion, serving millions of customers across the home improvement market. Its marketplace has become an increasingly important part of the retailer’s e-commerce strategy. Launched just two years ago, the marketplace already accounts for 26% of Castorama’s total e-commerce, demonstrating the pace at which the platform has developed.  Recent Kingfisher results also underline the marketplace’s rapid expansion. Castorama has onboarded 978 merchants, with the marketplace growing to 1.6 million SKUs and online penetration reaching 21%.

BHETA’s General Manager, Steve Richardson commented, “As online marketplaces continue to reshape the way brands reach customers across international markets, understanding where the strongest opportunities lie, and how to approach them effectively, is becoming increasingly important for businesses looking to expand their online sales.  This session provides an opportunity to understand how Castorama fits into a wider marketplace strategy and for those considering expanding their online sales channels, it will offer an introduction to the platform and the key considerations involved in establishing a presence.”

To register for the event or for more information contact the BHETA Member Services team on 0121 237 1130 or visit www.bheta.co.uk More details about other BHETA events, including webinars, Meet the Buyer sessions, and networking forums with leading retailers, are also available on the website.