Published date 11 Nov 2025
Entrepreneurs and business owners seeking to establish their presence in the ever-growing eCommerce landscape can learn valuable lessons from giants like Etsy, Amazon, and Temu. They can explore what makes digital infrastructure a leading eCommerce platform and how they have grown their marketplace businesses.
From starting as an online store to becoming a marketplace giant, operating a niche-based marketplace to discovering an unconventional path to dominance, and following distinct business models to driving marketplace success, one can explore everything about how Etsy, Amazon & Temu grew their marketplace businesses.
However, before we dive deep into this craft to explore how they become so popular and successful, let’s take a look at some stats of the eCommerce industry today.
According to Grand View Research, the global eCommerce market size is projected to grow at a CAGR of 18.9% from 2024 to reach $83.26 by 2030. Especially, the growth of multi-vendor online marketplaces has transformed the eCommerce landscape.
Etsy, Amazon and Temu are among those global leaders that dominate the eCommerce world. Etsy is known for selling unique and handmade items. Amazon, on the other hand, is popular for selling everything customers need and Temu is one of those marketplaces offering consumer goods at extremely low prices. All three marketplaces above are an inspiration for entrepreneurs and business owners. Let’s explore them in detail:
Etsy is a niche-based online marketplace known for selling handmade, unique and creative and vintage goods. The marketplace primarily connects independent artisans, craftsmen, and collectors to sell a wide variety of innovative products. Etsy targets customers specifically looking for gifts, collectibles, and goods with a personalized touch.
Initially, Etsy was started as a small platform. However, later it became a global community for artisans and craftsmen. Today, Etsy is one of the popular names among multi-vendor marketplaces with millions of active buyers and sellers.
| Founded Year | 2005 |
| Head Quarters | Brooklyn, New York |
| Founders | Rob Kalin, Jared Tarbell, Haim Schoppik, Chris Maguire |
| Marketplace Type | Multi-Vendor, Peer-to-Peer |
| Industry | eCommerce |
| Subsidiaries | Depop and Reverb.com |
| Number of Active Buyers | 96.6 Million (2024) |
| Number of Active Sellers | 8.1 Million (2024) |
| Number of Items Listed | No Data Available |
| App Downloads | 22.1 Million Times (2024) |
| Revenue Generated | $2.8 Billion |
| Net Income | 303 Billion (2024) |
Data Source: Business of Apps
When it comes to multi-vendor marketplaces, Amazon is probably the first name that comes to mind. Amazon is the global eCommerce giant and has been leading the industry for years. Apart from offering a wide range of products from diverse categories, the platform also provides a wide range of services.
Officially, Amazon was started as an online bookselling platform and then became the world’s largest multi-vendor marketplace selling almost everything customers can look for. The synonym of Amazon is the Everything Store. It sells almost everything.
| Founded Year | 1994 |
| Head Quarters | Bellevue, Washington |
| Founders | Jeff Bezos |
| Marketplace Type | Multi-Vendor, B2C and B2B |
| Industry | eCommerce |
| Subsidiaries | Amazon owns over 100 subsidiaries, including Amazon Web Services, Audible, IMDb, Amazon Robotics, Diapers.com, Goodreads, One Medical, Shopbop, Teachstreet, Twitch, Zappos and more |
| Number of Active Buyers | 310 Million (2025) |
| Number of Active Sellers | 2+ Million (2025) |
| Number of Items Listed | 600+ Million |
| App Downloads | No Data Available |
| Revenue Generated | $638 Billion (2024) |
| Net Income | $59.2 Billion (2024) |
Data Source: Business of Apps
Temu is one of the fastest-growing marketplaces. Since its launch in 2022, the marketplace has overtaken eBay and become the second most visited eCommerce platform. The platform is operated by PPD Holdings, also famous for operating a popular eCommerce platform, Pinduoduo
Temu is known for selling products at great discounts and lower prices. The platform directly ships products from the manufacturers and independent sellers to avoid additional costs and reduce shipping time. Several marketplaces in the U.S., including Etsy, Wayfair and others have experienced a decline in Gross Merchandise Value due to Temu. It won’t be surprising to say that Temu has shown exceptional growth in a short period of time.
| Founded Year | 2022 |
| Head Quarters | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Founders | Colin Huang |
| Marketplace Type | Multi-Vendor, Business-to-Consumer |
| Industry | eCommerce |
| Subsidiaries | Temu operates alongside PDD Holdings’ other major platform, Pinduoduo |
| Number of Active Buyers | 292 Million (2025) |
| Number of Active Sellers | Temu has 100,000 sellers in the U.S. and 200,000 international merchants |
| Number of Items Listed | 10 Million |
| App Downloads | 42 Million |
| Revenue Generated | Not Released |
| Net Income | Not Released |
Source: AMZScout
An effective business model is the key to driving success for your marketplace. No matter whether you are operating a B2B, B2C or any other. To thrive, you need to stand out from the competition. However, if you are one of those entrepreneurs building a marketplace, exploring distinct business models of Etsy, Amazon and Temu can help you define your business model and plan effective growth strategies.
Etsy operates a peer-to-peer (P2P) marketplace. It connects small manufacturers or individual artisans, craftsmen and creators with customers seeking handmade, unique, and creative products. Etsy operates a niche marketplace targeting customers with specific needs.
Sellers on Etsy list their products, including handmade, and unique and vintage items and set their prices themselves. The platform allows sellers to list as many products as they want without any restrictions.
On the other hand, buyers can browse and proceed to checkout from the comfort of their home.
However, Etsy itself takes care of the operational aspects, allowing sellers to sell products globally without worrying about shipping and other management. In addition, customer service, marketing, promotions, maintenance and seller education are also those areas that Etsy takes care of.
Key Partners
Value Propositions
Key Activities
Customer Relationship
Customer Segment
Sales Channels
Revenue Streams
Cost Structure
Key Resources
Suggested Read: How does Etsy make money?
Amazon is a leading online marketplace known for its diversified business models and a wide range of offerings. It operates B2C (Business-to-Consumer-Customer) and B2B (Business-to-Business) marketplaces. Alongside, it offers products and services, Amazon also offers cloud computing services (AWS – Amazon Web Services).
The marketplace allows third-party sellers to list and sell products. Amazon also acts as a retailer for its own brands. Sells its own products through numerous private-label brands like AmazonBasics, Amazon Essentials and AmazonFresh.
Buyers on Amazon browse a wide range of products from its extensive catalogs, place orders and get them delivered at their doorsteps. In addition, developers also leverage Amazon through its Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud platform.
Key Partners
Value Propositions
Key Activities
Customer Relationship
Customer Segment
Channels
Revenue Streams
Cost Structure
Key Resources
Suggested Read: Amazon Business & Features Guide
The unprecedented growth of Temu has left the businesses in shock. Its growth and expansion are all about its business model and strategies. Temu’s user acquisition strategies are the highlights for businesses in the eCommerce world.
Temu’s business model is focused on offering products at surprisingly low cost. The platform targets customers looking for the best deals. Hence, the marketplace is able to attract a large customer base seeking affordability.
Temu bypasses middlemen by connecting sellers directly with Chinese manufacturers and suppliers. The marketplace also enables group buying options for customers to get more discounts on an increased number of orders. In addition, its low shipping rates are also one of the significant competitive advantages, even for small orders.
Key Partners
Value Propositions
Key Activities
Customer Relationship
Customer Segment
Channels
Revenue Streams
Cost Structure
Key Resources
Marketplaces generate revenue via multiple revenue channels. Similarly, Etsy, Amazon and Temu also generate revenue via several revenue streams. Let’s explore the revenue model of each one of these marketplaces below:
Etsy is known for its unique revenue model. It generates revenue from multiple channels. Below are a few major revenue generation sources for Etsy.
| Please note that the payment processing fee on Etsy is separate from the transactional charges. |
1. Etsy Plus: Etsy Plus subscription enables access to advanced seller tools, services and perks. It charges a recurring fee of $10.
2. Pattern: To subscribe to Pattern sellers on Etsy, sellers need to pay a monthly recurring fee of $15. However, the subscription comes with a 30-day free trial. This subscription allows Etsy sellers to create their own custom website using its listing.
3. Insider: It’s an invite-only closed beta membership program for buyers in the United States. Invited buyers get the option to purchase a seasonal or annual membership. These memberships include benefits like Free US domestic shipping, a birthday bonus, access to special deals and early access to items.
Amazon is one of those eCommerce businesses shown year-on-year growth and profitability. The reasons are its wide offerings and diversified revenue channels. However, when it comes to how Amazon makes money, the most predicted answer is through retail sales, primarily contributed by third-party sellers.
But that’s not the only way for Amazon to make money. Though it generates revenue from multiple channels. If you are diving into the eCommerce world, knowing Amazon’s revenue can help you choose smart revenue streams. Let’s take a look at each one of these revenue streams carefully:
However, the charges may vary depending on the subscription plan you choose. These plans may include Amazon Prime, Prime Shipping, Prime Video, Amazon Fresh, Music Unlimited, Amazon Fresh and more.
Businesses pay to increase their products’ visibility on the first page and in the search results. Additionally, Amazon also enables video ads on streaming services like Prime Video, Fire TV, Twitch and more.
Temu’s rapid growth is not unnoticed by eCommerce giants. The marketplace is forcing established industry giants to innovate. However, when it comes to revenue generation, Temu generates income through multiple streams, including sales commissions, advertising, affiliate commissions, data monetization, and more. Let’s explore the revenue model of Temu Below:
| Note: Temu remains an unprofitable marketplace due to several positive reasons. At the same time, experts predict that losses may be minimal or can be turned into profit if its user acquisition and sales growth continue. |
Building a marketplace like Etsy, Amazon or Temu can be overwhelming. However, at the same time, the journey can be easy too if you follow the right steps. If you are one of those entrepreneurs or business owners who want to build a marketplace like Etsy, Amazon, Temu or any other, you can follow the steps below:
Every business requires something unique to stand out from the competition. Whether it’s Etsy, Amazon or Temu, each of these marketplaces operates with distinct offerings. Their success lies in what’s unique they have introduced to the industry. Similarly, your marketplace also needs to be exceptional if you want your business to thrive.
To do so, you need to conduct thorough market research. Below are some critical considerations to consider when conducting research and defining your marketplace requirements:
Once you have finalized conducting research and found answers to all the questions mentioned above. Now, the very next step is to define your business and revenue model. On the one hand, defining a business model is crucial for your marketplace operations. On the other hand, deciding on a revenue model is a critical requirement to generate revenue and build a profitable business.
Business model includes:
Primary revenue streams marketplaces generate revenue from:
Build a marketplace that perfectly matches specific requirements. You can either develop it from scratch or choose a readymade marketplace software to launch. Building a marketplace from scratch requires significant investment of time, money and resources. On the other hand, launching a marketplace using a readymade solution can reduce investment of time and resources, allowing you to tap into the market quickly.
Initially, you can build a marketplace MVP (minimum Viable Product) instead of building a full-fledged marketplace. It requires less investment, time and resources. Launching an MVP is a great way to validate your idea.
| Yo!Kart is a popular readymade marketplace software that empowers businesses by helping them build a feature-rich marketplace. |
Key Features for Buyers (Buyer Dashboard)
Key Features for Sellers (Seller Dashboard)
Key Features for Admin (Admin Dashboard)
The final step is to launch your and grow your marketplace. However, before introducing your marketplace to the real world, you can tick these factors.
Pre-Launch Activities:
Post-Launch Activities:
Planning to launch a marketplace like Etsy, Amazon or Temu, Yo!Kart is the right readymade solution for you. The software supports B2C, C2C, and B2B business models, which makes it an ideal choice for entrepreneurs. It enables all the necessary features and functionality required to complete transactions on the marketplace.
Yo!Kart comes with 20+ pre-integrated payment gateways, shipping management tools, reporting and analytics tools, SEO and marketing tools and more. In addition, it allows you to launch buyer mobile apps for Android and iOS users to offer an enhanced shopping experience. In short, you can gain access to the complete ecosystem by getting started with Yo!Kart.
What attracts entrepreneurs more about Yo!Kart is a self-hosted eCommerce solution that allows you to host your platform on your preferred server, offering complete control and access. Moreover, by getting source ownership with Yo!Kart, you can modify and implement changes at the code level without any restrictions.
Yo!Kart brings several advantages alongside a feature-rich eCommerce platform. Let’s explore the advantages of choosing Yo!Kart below:
All three industry leaders are an inspiration for entrepreneurs and business owners looking to start their own marketplaces. Etsy has proven how a different business model can help you stand out from the crowd, Amazon has shown how continuous innovations have led the way to lead the industry and on the other side, Temu has demonstrated how strategic planning can help you become one of the fastest-growing marketplaces, surpassing eCommerce giants.
Whether you’re a startup planning to launch your own multi-vendor marketplace or an entrepreneur who wants to explore how Etsy, Amazon and Temu have grown their business, I hope this blog has solved all your queries and provided you with valuable insights.
This craft has decoded how Etsy, Amazon, and Temu built their empires, what their business and revenue models are, and how you can build a marketplace like them using Yo!Kart. In addition, you have also explored their history, achievements, improvements and innovations.
Ans: The time to build a marketplace like Etsy, Amazon or Temu can vary depending on the approach you choose. Building a marketplace from scratch can like any one can take anywhere between 6 to 12 months or more. On the other hand, choosing the best readymade marketplace software can let you introduce your marketplace within a month.
Ans. The cost to build a marketplace like Etsy, Amazon or Temu can vary greatly. Building it from scratch may require an investment of between $100000 – $200000 or more. However, choosing a readymade marketplace software like Yo!Kart can let you launch your marketplace starting at $1249 or more, depending on your personalized needs.
Ans. Yo!Kart is a readymade marketplace software that is available at a one-time payment model, starting at $499. It eliminates the need for a higher investment required for building a marketplace from scratch. In addition, Yo!Kart also lets you avoid recurring payments like SaaS-based solutions.
Ans. Etsy charges $0.20 for each listing. In addition, selling products on Etsy also requires paying transactional charges, payment processing fees and more.
Ans. Etsy is a niche-based marketplace that targets specific customer segments looking for handmade, creative and vintage products. However, Amazon and Temu offer a wide range of products catering to diverse categories.
Ans. After getting a great hype, Temu is still not a profitable marketplace. However, the marketplace is currently focusing on acquiring customers, growth and expansion rather than just focusing on profit.
Ans. Temu cuts down the middleman cost by directly sourcing products from manufacturers to ensure delivery to the customers. In addition, Temu also manages shipping at a very low cost by partnering with its parent company, Pinduoduo (PPD Holdings). Several sources also indicate that it charges a lower commission compared to other marketplaces. This is how Temu manages to offer products at extremely low prices.
Ans. You can get started with Yo!Kart in just four easy steps: