Play.com launches online marketplace

Play.com, which is owned by Rakuten, will support merchants on the marketplace with a team of e-commerce consultants. It will help retailers to optimise online sales and design shop fronts as well as helping to organise online marketing.

Merchants will benefit from its Superpoints loyalty scheme, enabling retailers to reward and incentivise customers through their own campaigns.

Merchants will be able to access Rakuten’s mailing programme, allowing them to directly engage with their customer base.

Play.com marketing director Adam Stewart believes a collaborative approach is “critical”.

He added: “Let’s face it, competition online is fierce. Whatever a retailer’s size, it’s crucial that they are armed with the tools to create a shopping experience that offers customers more than just the lowest price tag. Rather than competing with our merchant, at Rakuten’s Play.com we want to create lasting partnerships and help them maximise sales through the platform - it’s win, win, win.”