Boots announces online marketplace for third-party sellers

Boots has announced a new online marketplace, which will launch in Spring 2023 and enable third-party brands of any size to list their products on the company’s website.

A spokesperson for Boots said that marketplace sellers would be mainly brands and manufacturers rather than wholesalers and resellers, and that Boots would carry out due diligence on all marketplace ranges to ensure they meet the same standards as its current range.

The platform will be powered by Mirakl, a marketplace platform run on the Software as a service (SaaS) model, and allow customers to purchase items from different marketplace sellers and Boots brands in one checkout, with access to benefits such as Boots Advantage Card points.

The spokesperson added that Boots is not looking to sell and licensed medicine products in its initial range offering on Boots Marketplace.

Paula Bobbett, chief digital officer at Boots, said the marketplace was an ‘exciting next step’ in its digital transformation programme’, which is looking to extend the range on its website and explore new categories for customers.

He continued: ‘We’re approaching this new opportunity for Boots with a deep understanding of our customers and the health, beauty and wellness products that they want to buy, and helps us to work with new smaller and entrepreneurial brands.

‘Marketplace will allow us to build on the strength of our existing business to offer an even bigger range of choice for consumers and be the first to market with emerging brands and new products.’

Boots already lists its own health offerings, such as prescriptions, vaccinations and Covid tests, alongside services from other providers on the Boots Health Hub.

Earlier this week, Boots announced a low-price ‘everyday’ range, with products ranging from 50p to £1.50.