Overview
Trade Me is New Zealand's largest online marketplace and classifieds platform, where people and businesses buy and sell new and used goods, as well as cars, property and jobs. It is by far the leading e-commerce site in New Zealand. For a brand that wants to reach New Zealand shoppers, Trade Me is the most important local marketplace.
Who is behind Trade Me
Trade Me was founded in 1999 by Sam Morgan and is based in Wellington. When eBay tried to enter New Zealand in 2001, it had little success against Trade Me. Trade Me was later listed on the stock exchange and, in 2019, was bought by the UK private equity firm Apax Partners for about NZD 2.5 billion. Today it runs four main businesses: Marketplace, Motors, Property and Jobs, and it has expanded into areas such as AI tools and a stake in Stuff Digital.
How Trade Me Marketplace works
- Auctions and fixed prices. Sellers can run auctions or sell at a fixed "Buy Now" price.
- Fees. Trade Me has recently removed success fees for casual, private sellers on Marketplace to compete with Facebook Marketplace. Business ("in-trade") sellers still pay success fees, which are tiered by category.
- Ping payments. Trade Me's own payment service, Ping, lets buyers pay by card and helps protect against scams.
- Who can sell. Sellers should be residents of New Zealand or Australia. Sellers from other countries need Trade Me's approval, and Trade Me looks for experienced overseas sellers with a solid e-commerce track record.
What a brand needs
- Delivery to New Zealand, ideally from local stock, since shoppers expect fast delivery.
- A New Zealand or Australian presence, or approval from Trade Me as an overseas seller.
- New Zealand compliance for each category.
- Good listings, since Trade Me works more like eBay, where listing quality strongly affects sales.
Why Trade Me matters for brands
Trade Me is part of everyday life in New Zealand, with millions of members. For brands entering New Zealand, it is usually the first marketplace to consider.
How eBrands looks at Trade Me
eBrands works with brands on marketplaces and retail channels across Europe, North America and beyond. If you are thinking about New Zealand and want to see whether Trade Me fits your plans, we are happy to talk it through. See also our Mighty Ape page.
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