[Event Report] Growth Meetup: Operational Design and Execution Case Studies for Growing Your Business Using Both Shopify and Marketplaces

Growth Meetup Held on 8/28

Growth Meetup is an event held almost every Wednesday, where guests and participants learn together about the know-how of continuously growing a business using Shopify.

At the Growth Meetup held on August 28, we welcomed Takahiro Izawa, Representative Director of Commerce Media Co., Ltd., as our guest. He shared insights on operational design and real-world case studies for growing a business by leveraging both Shopify and marketplaces. Here we present highlights from the session.

Summary

This event introduced operational design strategies and real-world case studies for growing sales by combining Shopify with marketplaces. Learning was deepened through an interactive format where questions were posed to participants.

1. The Current State of the EC Market and Platform Utilization

• First, all participants confirmed together the significance of operating both a proprietary EC site and marketplaces. In today's EC market, marketplace-type platforms account for 60% of the total while proprietary EC sites (such as Shopify) account for 40%. It became clear that if neither channel alone can achieve your goals, there is real value in running both.

2. Operational Design for Shopify and Marketplaces

• Participants also organized the differences between proprietary EC like Shopify and marketplace platforms. Shopify offers low cost and high customizability, while marketplaces are sales channels that make it easy to reach a large number of users. It became clear that combining both enables an effective growth strategy.

3. Utilizing OMS (Order Management Systems) and WMS (Warehouse Management Systems)

• There was a detailed explanation of the differences between OMS and WMS and various combination patterns. Operating both a proprietary EC site and marketplaces is demanding, and through concrete explanations, it became clear how important it is to leverage OMS (Order Management Systems) and WMS (Warehouse Management Systems) to streamline order processing and fulfillment.

4. Key Points When Implementing OMS and WMS

• Key points for system implementation were also explained, including guidance on which systems to adopt in which situations, along with operational tips. Given the many nuanced aspects of operations, it was clear that even very fine details are carefully considered when implementing and running these systems.

5. Marketing for Proprietary EC and Marketplaces

• The differences in marketing approaches between proprietary EC and marketplaces were explained, including a detailed look at which metrics to track and what tactics to apply. Unique techniques from Commerce Media, which operates both proprietary EC and marketplaces, were also shared.

Participant Takeaways

Participants shared that they gained concrete insights into the differences between marketplaces and proprietary EC sites.
Additionally, their knowledge of logistics deepened, and many found it extremely valuable to learn specific operational approaches and success factors through real-world case studies. Attendees were able to take home practical tips that will be useful in their future operations.

Conclusion

At this Growth Meetup, concrete insights were shared on operational design and execution case studies for running both Shopify and marketplaces in tandem. Participants deepened their understanding of the differences between marketplaces and proprietary EC sites, and learned effective operational strategies that leverage the strengths of each. Knowledge about inventory management and logistics efficiency using OMS and WMS was also gained, highlighting the key points for centralizing and streamlining operations across multiple platforms.

Growth Meetup is held almost every Wednesday, with the goal of energizing the Shopify and growth community. Future sessions are expected to deliver even deeper learning and practical knowledge, so if you are interested, please join us.