Allegro.cz's Big Sales and Questions, Plus Amazon Teams Up with Meta!

Big Sales, Big Questions

In the third quarter, people spent over 40 million EUR on Allegro.cz. But when you compare that to all online shopping (2 billion EUR, which went down by 11% from last year), it makes you wonder what's going on.

Even with the overall decrease, Allegro.cz did pretty well, grabbing a 2% piece of the whole online shopping pie. That's cool for a newcomer. Now, the big question is: Who sold all this stuff?

Seems like most sales came from Polish sellers, with MALL.cz (now part of Allegro) and independent sellers on Allegro not far behind. But here's the catch: smaller local sellers are having a tough time. The market is hard, and big online marketplaces are getting even bigger.

Looking at Allegro.cz's Q3 numbers, they had -15 mil EUR for something called EBIDTA. That's a big number, especially when you think about their billion-crown sales. Allegro's stock on the Polish exchange dropped by 9%.

Have Amazon and Meta Reached a Common Understanding at Last?

Amazon and Meta have teamed up to integrate Facebook and Instagram with Amazon, allowing on-platform shopping and data sharing for targeted advertising. Users who opt-in can experience a streamlined checkout process directly on Facebook and Instagram, with a simplified Amazon product page featuring a prominent "Buy with Amazon" button. This partnership aims to enhance the shopping experience, increase ad conversion rates, and boost ad spending on social platforms. The collaboration signifies a rare alliance between major players in social networks and e-commerce, with a focus on data retention amid changing privacy regulations.

Marketplaces More Dominant in Cross-Border E-commerce"

In the European Union, cross-border online sales are predominantly driven by marketplaces, constituting 63% of the total. At the local level, the landscape is more evenly distributed, with marketplaces and traditional e-shops sharing the market in approximately a 50:50 ratio

According to the report, these sellers generated a cross-border turnover in Europe of 265 billion euros (excluding travel) last year. And 167 billion euros was generated by marketplaces. Amazon and eBay account for nearly half of the marketplace-driven trade.

The Czech Search Engine That Nearly Took on Google

In the world of internet searches, everyone knows Google. But imagine a little-known Czech search engine that almost became a giant. This is the story of Seznam.cz, a local hero that won the hearts of Czech users and claimed a significant slice of the search engine pie.

Back in 1996, a guy named Ivo Lukačovič started Seznam.cz. It wasn't just a search engine; it was like the Google of the Czech Republic. While Google and Yahoo! were busy ruling the global scene, Seznam.cz was winning big in its home turf.

Seznam.cz's secret? Speaking Czech. While Google and others were mostly about English, Seznam.cz nailed it with Czech language and culture. People loved getting results in their own language with a touch of Czech flair. That made Seznam.cz a hit in a way Google couldn't match.

At its peak in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Seznam.cz had something like 60% of the Czech search market. That's a big deal! It wasn't just about search; they added email, news, and maps, becoming a one-stop-shop for Czech internet users.

As the internet went global, Google's massive power took over. Its super-smart searches, endless resources, and worldwide fame made it the top dog. Seznam.cz couldn't keep up on the global stage. Google was just everywhere.

In 2022 Seznam.cz wanted to create an online shopping Marketplace. It was supposed to be a mix of different services, like Alza or Allegro, and be inspired by Zboží.cz. The plan was not just to sell stuff but also to give extra services, such as reviews about products and useful info.

But, they looked at the risks of entering the online marketplace world, which means selling things online. They thought the challenges were too big compared to the benefits they could get. So, they decided to stop all the plans and keep the idea aside for now.