What Is C2C E-Commerce?
Explore the business model used by giants like Trendyol, N11, Hepsiburada, and Amazon. Differences between B2C, B2B, and marketplace models, their benefits, and how to get started.
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What is C2C marketplace e-commerce?
A marketplace (C2C – Customer to Customer) builds on “Consumer to Consumer”, i.e. peer-to-peer trade. Entrepreneurs who want to build sites like Trendyol, N11, or Hepsiburada use this model.
Examples in Turkey
Global examples
Revenue model
Commission on each sale
100 products, 30 days of listing
Promoted placement and sponsored content
Differences between B2C, B2B, and C2C marketplace e-commerce
B2C
Business to CustomerThe site owner lists their own products and sells retail to end consumers.
Risks
- Must hold product stock
- Photography and uploads
- Advertising and SEO cost
- Seasonal inventory risk
- Warehouse cost
B2B
Business to BusinessThe site owner sells products wholesale only to their dealers.
Risks
- Same risks as B2C
- Stock holding cost
- Needs advanced shelf/bin logic
- Large warehouse requirements
C2C marketplace
Customer to CustomerSellers list products on your site; the owner earns commission.
Advantages
- No warehouse cost for the owner
- No product photography burden
- Inventory risk sits with sellers
- Highly scalable model
How many marketplace models exist?
Whether you call it marketplace, multi-vendor, or C2C, this model has three main types.
Product sales
The richest model: thousands of SKUs with advanced XML/API and shipping integrations.
Service sales
No parcel shipping; services are listed one by one.
Classifieds
Revenue from listing packages; second-hand sales may be allowed.
Why did it become popular?
Pandemic impact
Physical stores lost revenue and shifted budgets online.
Investor appeal
Growing online sales pulled investment into digital commerce.
Efficiency
A B2C shop already runs ads and SEO; adding seller inventory and commission is a natural extension.
Lower risk
Instead of warehousing, recruit sellers who already carry the inventory risk.
Turkey’s four largest marketplaces (Hepsiburada, Trendyol, N11, GittiGidiyor) still cover only about 25% of e-commerce—a major opportunity for new marketplaces.
What the site owner must do
Choosing software
After launch
Seller outreach
Meet sellers who will list products and agree commercial terms
Carrier contracts
Sign at least one courier that fits the marketplace model
Payment acquirer
Partner with a provider that can split payouts by commission rules
Marketing
Run targeted campaigns on Google, Facebook, Instagram, etc.
Invoicing
Invoice sellers for commission, ads, and membership revenue
What sellers must do
Why would shoppers buy from you instead of N11 or Trendyol?
In 2020 data, the four largest marketplaces covered only about 25% of e-commerce. The remaining 75% leaves room for focused new marketplaces with the right strategy.
Why should sellers list on your site?
Many sellers already invest heavily in their own B2C stores. If listing on your marketplace is free and you drive traffic, there is little reason for them to refuse.
Why choose Softomi marketplace software?
Single focus: marketplaces
In Turkey, the only infrastructure vendor that focuses exclusively on marketplace software.
Broadest feature set
Far more marketplace features than typical local vendors
Easy operations
Admin UX built so owners can run the site day to day
Advanced shipping
Integrations that let sellers print shipping labels in one click
Export-ready
As you scale, expand abroad with export-ready tools
Scalable
Grow without replatforming
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C2C Marketplace
Features Only in Softomi
How to Earn from a Marketplace?
Software Cost & Planning from Scratch
High Volume Marketplace Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Marketplace Software?
Build a Site Like Amazon
Marketplace E-Export Features
E-Export Government Incentives
Ready to launch your marketplace?
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