E-commerce Europe: Germany finally joins neighbors

Launched on February 17, 2012, E-commerce Europe, which brings together various European online sales federations, has just welcomed the German trade association, Händlerbund as a new member. It’s an important event for the sector, given that it was opposition to the German model that brought the other federations together in the first place.

By attempting in 2011 to impose its own rules across Europe, including the systematic reimbursements of returns, Germany pushed eight national federations to join forces for a hearing at the European Parliament. Since then, while the number of national member organizations has risen from seven to fifteen, Germany nonetheless remained conspicuously absent.

But the arrival of Händlerbund changes that. With a very mature sales market that continues to grow, Germany is one of the largest European markets for online sales.

It generated approximately 63.4 billion euros in 2013 (+26.8%). Germany is also one of the leading service providers for the industry.

Händlerbund includes over 30,000 online entities, more than half of which are in the goods and services industry. Member businesses cover BtoC (2%), BtoB (46%) and both (52%). The arrival of the organization brings the number of companies grouped by E-commerce Europe to more than 25,000 throughout 16 countries.

E-commerce Europe: Germany finally joins neighbors

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