Asos Marketplace axes commission rates until the end of 2020

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Nov 12, 2020

Asos announced on Thursday that its Marketplace operation is removing commission rates until the end of 2020 “to support all its sellers – both existing and new – through the second coronavirus lockdown and peak trading period”.

The zero percent commission rate on the 10-year-old platform will affect thousands of international small brands that sell vintage and independent fashion, with the current 1,200 small businesses offering 160,000 products via the Marketplace.

Jo Hunt, Head of Asos Marketplace, said of this: “We recognise that the impact of Covid-19 will continue for some time and we are committed to continuing to support our boutique partners as they adapt and evolve their operations into peak trading. Our focus has always been on championing and supporting new talent across the fashion industry, and we are pleased to offer a platform to assist sellers that usually rely on traditional retail and help them grow online.”  

The commission announcement follows the support the fashion e-tail giant offered in April, when rent payments across the platform were also axed temporarily. 

The company added that Asos Marketplace “has had a strong year of sales, brand and traffic growth as customers turned to its 1,200 online boutiques for their vintage and independent fashion fix”.

The Marketplace team saw a surge in demand from new boutiques looking to join the platform in the spring when traditional physical stores and markets were closed. More than 80 new brands joined in April alone, an increase of close to 100% year-on-year.  

It has also seen charities signing up and last month announced the launch of five charity boutiques for AW20, including Cancer Research UK, Royal Trinity Hospice, Oxfam Festival Shop, British Red Cross and Save the Children. All proceeds from their sales go direct to each charity, with no commission paid to Asos Marketplace throughout the collaboration period.