By now, you've probably heard of Miravia. If you already know what Miravia is and have decided not to take advantage of the current opportunities this marketplace offers, this article might not be for you. However, if you're curious about Miravia and how to leverage its potential in its early stages, keep reading, you'll find this interesting.
Miravia is a new marketplace owned by Alibaba that has made a strong entry into the Spanish market, offering a competitive alternative to giants like Amazon. Everyone has Amazon in their sights (including us), but few companies can truly compete. In our opinion, Alibaba is one of those few.
You might be wondering, Why not just do it through Aliexpress? Why create a new marketplace? It's simple: users already associate Aliexpress with certain perceptions that might hinder its acceptance in the Spanish market. They needed something fresh, with a different image, promoted by local figures and managed from Spain.
The first step to start selling is to understand the selling options the platform offers. There are two types of accounts:
Official Store: This account type is designed exclusively for registered brands. It offers greater control over the store and advanced customization options. However, you need to go through an additional approval process by Miravia to obtain this account. In this model, you can only sell one brand under this account.
Marketplace Seller: This is a more traditional model that allows you to sell multiple brands in one store. There's no monthly fee, and you pay a commission on sales made. It's a more accessible option for users who don't own a registered brand.
Understanding all this information is great, but let's get to the important part: How much does it cost to sell on Miravia?
The commissions are affected by two variables: the product category and the type of account. Generally, commissions for the Official Store account type are higher, ranging between 7% and 15%, depending on the product category. For Marketplace Seller accounts, the commissions are lower, ranging between 6% and 10%, again depending on the product category.
And that's it, these are the only costs with Miravia so far. If you're familiar with how other marketplaces work, these commissions are much more competitive.
The advantages of selling on Miravia are clear: there are no fixed costs, less competition compared to other marketplaces, and a logistics system based on Alibaba's expertise. Additionally, Miravia offers greater visibility to official stores and purchasing incentives for users.
Another crucial point to consider when working with a marketplace is how you'll manage shipping. Until 2024, Miravia has offered two methods, and a third one seems to be on the way, bringing it even closer to Amazon's model:
DBM (Delivery by Miravia): This is the logistics service provided by Miravia. GLS picks up your orders at the address you provide, with the necessary documentation—usually pickup manifests. Initially, to attract new sellers, Miravia offered these shipments for a low price. Several of our current clients are still using this method.
DBS (Delivery by Seller): With this option, the seller has complete control over the shipping process. You can use your own shipping services and manage the entire logistics process. However, it's important to ensure you offer high-quality service to avoid issues and guarantee customer satisfaction. This format corresponds to FBM on Amazon. You handle all your logistics. If you work with a fulfillment center, this option is very attractive. If not, it's much smarter to use the DBM model.
FBM (Fulfilled by Miravia): In my view, a significant step for Miravia's growth in Spain. This model corresponds to FBA on Amazon. Miravia will establish contracts with logistics centers to store, prepare, and ship products for clients who choose this method. Obviously, this option will have extra associated costs: inbound service, outbound service, storage fees (over time), and shipping costs.
Respecting the vast differences currently existing between Miravia and Amazon, Miravia is rapidly gaining ground in Spain. With its focus on quality, competitive prices, and aggressive offers, Miravia positions itself as an attractive alternative for both consumers and sellers.
While Miravia still faces challenges to surpass Amazon, its exponential growth and emphasis on personalization and user experience make it a platform with great potential. Backed by Alibaba, Miravia has all the tools necessary to become a major player in the e-commerce market in Spain and beyond.
In summary, Miravia emerges as an interesting opportunity to sell products online, whether you're starting from scratch or expanding your sales channels. Plus, the entry barriers are very low since there are no fixed costs. However, we can't promise that selling on Miravia will guarantee success. What we can promise is that Lógicos can manage all the logistics side of your business so you can maximize your time and fully exploit the platform. If this sounds interesting to you, feel free to contact us here to start selling on Miravia.