Blog
Insights from building marketplaces, the model behind them, and lessons from production. Straight from the team behind Mercur.
Best Multi-Vendor Marketplace Software in 2026: An Architecture-First Comparison
We compare 12 multi-vendor marketplace platforms by architecture, real cost, and trade-offs. SaaS vs self-hosted vs open-source - with operator insights.
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Retail Digital Transformation: What Changes Operationally When Going From Retailer to Platform
Learn what retail digital transformation is, which 6 functions change when a retailer starts hosting other sellers, and which metrics to track.
SKU Rationalization: Why Adding More SKUs Stops Increasing Revenue?
Adding SKUs raises revenue early and suppresses it later. See the 4-step SKU rationalization process, the 6 challenges that derail it, and when to move the long tail to third-party sellers.
Why Inventory Risk Is the Silent Killer of Ecommerce Growth?
Inventory risk grows with catalog breadth, not with revenue. See the 7 types, the KPIs that expose your exposure early, and how a marketplace model shifts the stock off your balance sheet.
What Is a Marketplace Buy Box and How It Works
When several sellers list the same product, a marketplace buy box picks the winning offer. Here is how it works and why most platforms make you build it.
Marketplace Commission Structure: Types and How to Set Them
A practical guide to marketplace commission structures - flat, tiered, per-category, and per-seller rates, and what a commission engine needs to run them.
How to Build a B2B Marketplace: A Practical Guide
A practical guide to building a B2B marketplace - net terms, RFQ flows, approval workflows, and contract pricing that B2C platforms don't handle.
Sharetribe Alternatives in 2026: Marketplace Platforms Compared
Sharetribe is fast to launch but caps customization and charges on GMV. A guide to Sharetribe alternatives and when teams outgrow it.
Marketplace Monetization Models: Beyond Transaction Fees
Commission on GMV is the default marketplace monetization model - and the most expensive at scale. A guide to 5 models and how to choose.
Marketplace Catalog Management: Fixing 3P Data Quality
Your 3P catalog will always look worse than your 1P catalog. A guide to marketplace catalog management - templates, validation, and AI enrichment.
The Split Basket Problem: Where 1P and 3P Diverge
One cart, multiple sellers, inconsistent rules. A guide to the split basket problem in hybrid marketplaces and the 10 areas where 1P and 3P diverge.
How to Develop a Custom Marketplace: Step-by-Step Guide
A practical step-by-step guide to custom marketplace development - tech stack, MVP scope, integrations, and timelines for dev leads and PMs.
Vendor Hunting and Farming: Acquire and Retain Sellers
A practical guide to marketplace seller onboarding - how to acquire sellers (hunting) and retain top vendors (farming) with a repeatable process.
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