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80 suppliers and retailers gathered for BHETA's inaugural Marketplace Day on 20th January, gaining actionable insights from leading platforms and brands successfully scaling their digital presence.
The British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) hosted a sold-out Marketplace Day event that brought together suppliers, retailers, and leading marketplace operators to explore strategies for accelerating sales through digital channels. The full-day event featured presentations from B&Q Marketplace, TikTok Shop, and Tesco Marketplace, alongside real-world experiences from BHETA members who have successfully navigated the marketplace landscape.
The event addressed acritical industry shift: with over 75% of BHETA members now active on ecommerce and digital marketplaces, the channel has evolved from experimental to essential.
Steve Edwards, BHETA Sector Manager for DIY & Garden and event organiser and facilitator, highlighted the strategic importance: "The marketplace channel is no longer optional. It's fundamental to how consumers shop. What struck me most was the level of engagement from attendees at every stage of their marketplace journey. The interactive sessions with B&Q, TikTok Shop, and Tesco gave everyone practical, implementable insights."
RT7 Digital opened the event with an industry overview, emphasising that marketplace success depends on strategic channel selection, with brands matching product categories to platform strengths.
The marketplace operators: B&Q Marketplace, TikTok Shop, and Tesco, provided contrasting perspectives on the digital retail landscape. B&Q showcased their invitation-only model with marketplace representing over 40% of online sales, detailing click & collect functionality and retail media opportunities. TikTok Shop revealed home and living as their biggest category, with 32 million UK users and unprecedented discovery potential through creator partnerships. Tesco highlighted their advantages of 21 million Clubcard members and over one billion annual website visits.
The BHETA member presentations provided honest, real-world perspectives on marketplace journeys. Robert Winstanley from Minky Homecare, Andy Steel from Charles Bentley, and Laura Starkie from Meyer Group shared experiences spanning viral product success, multi-platform operations, and the critical importance of understanding true unit economics. Their collective insights emphasised both the opportunities and challenges of marketplace selling, from managing 20+platforms to maintaining profitability while scaling growth.
Key themes emerged throughout the day: excellence in content optimisation is non-negotiable, strategic advertising investment is now essential rather than optional, and authentic customer reviews drive conversion. The interactive format encouraged extensive discussion on topics ranging from inventory management and fulfilment strategies to brand protection and promotional calendar coordination.
Steve Richardson, BHETA General Manager, reflected on the event's success: "Today exemplified exactly what BHETA exists to do - bring together the collective expertise of our industry to help members navigate complex challenges and identify growth opportunities. The calibre of speakers, from the marketplace operators to our own members willing to share their experiences openly, created an incredibly valuable learning environment. I'm particularly grateful to B&Q, TikTok Shop, Tesco, RT7, and our member presenters for their time and transparency. For non-members watching from the sidelines, events like this demonstrate the tangible value of BHETA membership - access to insights, connections, and expertise you simply can't find elsewhere."
The event concluded with extensive networking, as attendees exchanged experiences and explored potential partnerships. BHETA has committed to developing additional marketplace-focused content, including international expansion insights and advanced optimisation workshops.
Click the link below if you're interested in learning more about BHETA membership or contact the association directly.
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