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JENS BERGERMANN

Digitec Galaxus is the largest online marketplace in Switzerland and part of the Migros Group, one of the country's leading retail corporations. The platform consists of two websites: digitec.ch, specializing in consumer electronics, and galaxus.ch, which offers a wide range of products from electronics to everyday items. Originally founded as a pure electronics provider, Digitec expanded its offerings under the new brand Galaxus. Today, Digitec and Galaxus offer retailers in Switzerland, and increasingly in Germany and Austria, access to a huge customer base and extensive reach.

What requirements must retailers meet to sell on Galaxus? To sell on the Digitec Galaxus marketplace, retailers need a solid IT infrastructure to seamlessly connect their systems to the marketplace's, ensuring the automated exchange of product and order data. Furthermore, it is important that they adhere to the philosophy and high-quality standards of Digitec Galaxus.

Challenges when selling on the Swiss online marketplace, such as logistics, import, and storage, can be easily managed by shipping products directly to the end customer and with targeted support from distribution partners. Distribution partners help you introduce new products to the Swiss market and offer many advantages, such as optimized warehousing and smooth import processes.

What are the Advantages of Digitec Galaxus?

Digitec Galaxus offers you as a retailer a variety of advantages if you want to list your products on the platform. Here are the most important advantages in detail:
 

1. Extensive Reach and High Customer Traffic:
 

• Europe-wide Presence: Since November 1, 2018, Digitec Galaxus has been active across Europe, operating marketplaces in several countries, including Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

• High Traffic: In 2023, the marketplace generated revenue of 286 million euros and recorded over 6 million monthly visits to its marketplaces. This allows retailers to achieve enormous visibility and reach a broad customer base.

• Active Customer Base: With more than 1 million active customers, retailers benefit from a large and engaged customer base.
   

2. Strong Brand Image and Transparency:
 

• Focus on Brands and Quality: Unlike other marketplaces like Amazon, which offer a broad spectrum of products, Digitec Galaxus places special emphasis on a higher-priced assortment focused on brands and quality. This attracts a customer group willing to pay more for high-quality products, which positively impacts retailer margins.

• Independent Editorial Team: Digitec Galaxus offers not only a marketplace but also an active community and a magazine. The independent editorial team tests and reviews products critically and honestly, without regard for potential revenue loss. This transparent approach strengthens customer trust in the platform and the products offered.

• Transparency: The marketplace places great value on transparency towards its customers. This is reflected in various features, such as insight into price developments, return rates, and manufacturing countries directly on the product pages.
   

3. Comprehensive Marketing and Advertising Opportunities:
 

• Marketing and Customer Service: Retailers benefit from Digitec Galaxus's extensive marketing services, including placement in newsletters and promotional campaigns. The marketplace's customer service is available to end customers for questions and returns, while returns can be sent easily and directly to the retailers.
   

4. Professional Product Management:
 

• Quality and Clarity: Through professional product management, Digitec Galaxus ensures a high-quality and clear presentation of products on the marketplace. This includes careful sorting and appealing display of products, leading to an intuitive shopping experience for customers.
   

5. Efficient Processing and Customer Service:
 

• Customer Service and Returns: Digitec Galaxus handles customer service for questions about products, deliveries, invoices, and payments. The simple returns process allows customers to send back unwanted products without much hassle, which positively strengthens customer satisfaction.
   

Through these advantages, Digitec Galaxus positions itself as a high-quality alternative to other major marketplaces and allows you as a retailer to present your products in an environment that emphasizes transparency, quality, and an engaged community.

How Big is the Reach of Digitec Galaxus in Switzerland?

In 2023, Galaxus, along with its sister platform Digitec, achieved considerable success. In total, around 4.09 million customers worldwide shopped at Galaxus or Digitec. This represents a significant increase in the active customer base since 2015, when it was less than a fifth of the current number. About 3 million customers ordered exclusively in Switzerland, meaning the customer base makes up almost 50% of the entire Swiss population (8.98 million in 2022), which illustrates the company's impressive reach and market position.

Digitec Galaxus has more than quintupled its customer volume since 2015. Particularly strong growth was recorded in 2020, when the number of customers increased by about 50 percent due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The annual growth remained in the double digits even after 2020. The success of Digitec Galaxus is based on a broad product range, attractive prices, and excellent availability.

The impressive reach and steady growth make Digitec Galaxus an attractive marketplace for retailers who want to be successful both nationally and internationally.

What are the Current Sales Figures and Statistics for Digitec Galaxus?

Digitec Galaxus shows impressive sales figures and strong growth in various areas:

Customer Segments and Growth

• Switzerland: In Switzerland, the number of active customers increased by 12% in 2023 to 3.06 million.

• EU Markets: Growth in European markets was even more striking, with an increase in the active customer base by 39 percent to 1.03 million. The Galaxus platform has now expanded its presence to Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands, with the current focus on Germany and Austria.

• Shopping Habits: Over half of customers now use a smartphone for shopping, compared to only 20% in early 2016, when the majority of purchases were still made via computer.

Sales Trends at Galaxus in 2023

• Consumer Electronics & IT: Galaxus is particularly strong in the Consumer Electronics and IT category, a strength that stems from Digitec's history.

• Beauty and Health: Sales in the Beauty and Health category increased by almost 50%.

• Home & Living: In the Home & Living category, Galaxus also recorded considerable growth, both in terms of the size of the assortment and revenue.

• Sports: The sports sector has also developed strongly, with a notable increase in sales performance and assortment expansion.

• Fashion: The fashion sector still has room for improvement. Currently, major providers like Zalando, Asos, H&M, and Zara dominate here. Galaxus has potential for further growth and expansion in this area.

• DIY and Garden Items: In 2023, Galaxus sold over 20% more products from the "DIY + Garden" category.

• Groceries: Revenue in the supermarket segment increased by 70% from 2022 to 2023.

Galaxus is not only experiencing steady growth but also an increasing market presence in Europe. The platform benefits from its comprehensive product range and its commitment to transparency and customer service.

What are the Conditions for Retailers on Digitec Galaxus?

When selling on Digitec Galaxus, the largest marketplace in Switzerland, all retailers must meet uniform conditions, with additional specific requirements for international participants.

General Conditions for Retailers:

• Contractual Relationship: The purchase contract is made directly between the retailer and the end customer. Digitec Galaxus acts merely as an intermediary, managing product data, processing orders, and handling the entire payment process.

• Technical Integration: For efficient collaboration, retailers must provide an electronic connection via an interface. This can be either in the form of partial automation (manually uploading current product data, manually processing orders) or full automation (complete integration of product and order data).

• Cost Structure: There are no basic fees or initial costs. Instead, variable sales fees are charged, which differ depending on the product category.

• Selection Criteria: Digitec Galaxus carefully selects its retailers to ensure that the products offered meet customer expectations and contribute to strengthening the brand image. Adherence to these standards is crucial to gain customer trust and ensure a consistently high-quality shopping experience on the platform. Digitec Galaxus does not accept new suppliers or retailers if the assortment is considered too small or if the requirements for quality and reliability are not sufficiently met.

Product Data Requirements in Detail

The quality of product data is one of the central prerequisites for a successful listing on Digitec Galaxus. A basic requirement is that all products must have valid EAN or GTIN codes—without these, inclusion in the assortment is not possible. Regarding product images: the main image must show the product isolated on a white background in a frontal view. Permissible file formats are JPEG and PNG, and the images must be accessible via a publicly available URL. Watermarks, logos, advertising texts, campaign overlays, or placeholders are strictly forbidden. Images are cropped and arranged by Galaxus using AI to ensure a uniform appearance on the marketplace.

Product descriptions have a maximum length of 4,000 characters. HTML formatting is not allowed. The descriptions must be detailed, error-free, and factually formulated—promotional writing styles, superlatives, calls to action, and price information are expressly prohibited. Galaxus revises product descriptions using AI, so a clean, well-structured starting point directly influences the quality of the final presentation. The most relevant attributes and keywords should be placed within the first 160 to 500 characters.

Brand names must be specified in their exact, legally correct spelling—without manufacturer additions, geographical supplements, or internal abbreviations. Product names may not exceed 100 characters and must not contain category information, specifications like color or size, or special characters or trademark symbols. Since Galaxus works with static product data, titles, images, descriptions, and specifications are not automatically updated after the initial import—changes must be explicitly communicated to the responsible Galaxus contact person.

Special Conditions and Challenges for International Retailers:

• Technical Integration: International retailers must ensure that their IT infrastructure meets the technical requirements of Digitec Galaxus. A connection via well-known platforms like Magento 2, Shopify, or via middleware such as ChannelEngine is required.

• Legal and Tax Regulations: Retailers outside of Switzerland must meet additional legal and tax requirements that need to be considered for international sales. This includes, for example, the correct handling of VAT and customs regulations.

• Currency and Payment Management: Integration into Digitec Galaxus's payment system must be seamless to ensure smooth processing of payments and refunds. International retailers must manage potential currency conversions and currency risks.

Digitec Galaxus continuously monitors the performance of active retailers and defines clear minimum standards for ongoing operations. These particularly include delivery accuracy and punctuality, which are regularly evaluated at the partner level.

Customer inquiries must be answered within 24 hours—this response time is a mandatory standard, not a recommendation. Inventory levels must be kept constantly up-to-date via the so-called StockPricing document, as outdated availability data directly affects the customer experience. Retailers who repeatedly fall below the defined minimum standards must face consequences: Galaxus can adjust the displayed delivery times in such cases or, in extreme cases, completely exclude the retailer from the partner program.

Are There Fees and Commissions at Digitec Galaxus?

At Digitec Galaxus, fees and commissions apply to you as a retailer. Here is a detailed overview of the marketplace's fee structure:

1. No Basic Fees or Initial Costs: Retailers do not have to pay any fixed basic fees or setup fees to offer their products on Digitec Galaxus. This means there are no financial barriers to entry to become active as a seller on the platform.

2. Variable Sales Fees: Instead, Digitec Galaxus exclusively charges variable sales fees, which are based on the selling price of the items. These fees only apply when a product is actually sold, meaning you only pay for actual sales.

3. Percentage-based Fees: The amount of the sales fee varies depending on the product category. This means that the fee applied to each sale is calculated as a percentage of the respective product's selling price. The exact percentages differ depending on the type of product and are detailed in the specific sales conditions of Digitec Galaxus.

The following table provides an orientation for the variable commissions per product group (guideline values, calculation based on the net selling price):

The exact commission rate within the respective range is determined during the individual onboarding process and can vary depending on the product range, product type, and sales volume. Retailers receive a binding fee overview at the product type level, which is part of the retailer agreement. It is therefore advisable to carry out an individual calculation based on your own product structure before onboarding.

This fee structure offers you as a retailer, above all, a lot of flexibility and minimizes your financial risk, as costs only arise when you actually generate revenue.

How Can You List Products on Digitec Galaxus?

To offer products on Digitec Galaxus, you can act either as a retailer or as a supplier. Each model comes with its own requirements and advantages.

The Onboarding Process Step by Step

Onboarding at Digitec Galaxus follows a structured four-step process. In the first phase, you register via the official partner form on the Galaxus website, providing basic information about your company and your product range. For an initial potential analysis, Galaxus typically requires a simple EAN list in Excel format, which the platform uses to assess whether the assortment fits the marketplace and meets the basic requirements.

In the second phase, Galaxus thoroughly reviews your application. In addition to the assortment evaluation, an introductory meeting takes place where the Galaxus team clarifies technical questions, discusses the data situation, and defines the next steps. Central to this is the evaluation of product data quality: complete product information such as product name, EAN, inventory, image links, and product properties are already crucial at this stage. Additionally, a test order is carried out, where Galaxus orders a product and you handle the delivery—only after successful verification and return is the go-live approved.

The third phase involves the technical integration of your systems. Retailers must connect their IT infrastructure to Galaxus via a fully automated EDI interface—manual processes are not an option. Product data is transmitted in structured CSV files, which include master data, media, price and inventory data, and specifications. Data is preferably delivered via a password-protected FTP server with an update frequency of at least every 48 hours, ideally daily. The technical integration is typically the most time-consuming step of the entire onboarding process. After a successful test phase, the fourth phase is the go-live: your product offers are activated on the marketplace and can be purchased by end customers. The total duration of the process depends heavily on your company's IT readiness—well-prepared partners go live within a few weeks, while others need up to a year.

1. Becoming a Retailer on Digitec Galaxus:

As a retailer on Digitec Galaxus, you sell your products directly to end customers via the platform. In this case, you are responsible for shipping yourself and pay a commission on each order to Digitec Galaxus. This model is comparable to Amazon's "Merchant" model. The advantage of this approach is that you retain control over the shipping and storage of your products and can present your brand directly to customers.

2. Becoming a Digitec Galaxus Supplier:

As a supplier, you deliver your products directly to Digitec Galaxus's central warehouses. From there, Digitec Galaxus handles the entire shipping to the end customers. The advantage of this model is that you benefit from Digitec Galaxus's extensive logistics and broad reach, as the platform manages the entire shipping process for you.

An example of a distribution partner that uses both models is SURS AG. It operates both a retailer and a supplier account with Digitec Galaxus. This is rare, as most partners limit themselves to either the retailer or the supplier model, since using both models requires high standards in product data, data transmission, and delivery capability.

Collaboration with a Distributor

If you are unable to meet the requirements of Digitec Galaxus on your own, you have the option to work with a distributor for Switzerland. Digitec Galaxus does not accept many brands and retailers if they do not meet the minimum requirements—such as high-quality product data, reliable data transmission, and a certain delivery capability. In such cases, SURS can help you. This means that SURS lists your products on Digitec Galaxus and handles the entire shipping process. This allows you to still be present on Digitec Galaxus and benefit from the enormous reach of the marketplace without having to meet the full operational requirements yourself.

What Import Rules Apply to Digitec Galaxus?

Selling via Digitec Galaxus in Switzerland is subject to special import rules, which present some challenges due to Switzerland's special relationship with the EU. Since Switzerland is not a member of the European Union, separate customs regulations apply to the movement of goods. As a retailer, you must ensure that your products comply with Swiss laws and are correctly cleared through customs during cross-border trade.

For foreign mail-order companies, a turnover threshold of 100,000 Swiss francs per year applies. As soon as your turnover from small consignments to Switzerland exceeds this amount, you are obliged to register for Swiss Value Added Tax (VAT) with the Federal Tax Administration (FTA). Small consignments in this context are shipments where the applicable import tax is less than CHF 5—specifically, this affects shipments with a value of goods under approximately CHF 65 at the regular VAT rate. The regular Swiss VAT rate has been 8.1 percent since January 2025; a reduced rate of 2.5 percent applies to food, medicines, and books.

Once a VAT registration obligation exists, it may be necessary to appoint a fiscal representative in Switzerland. The fiscal representative is a natural or legal person based in Switzerland who represents the foreign company before the Swiss authorities, handles the quarterly VAT returns, and acts as an intermediary with the tax administration. The FTA usually requires a financial security deposit of 3 percent of the taxable annual turnover in Switzerland upon registration. For EU retailers who sell exclusively via Galaxus's EU hub model, this requirement is waived: in this case, Digitec Galaxus assumes the role of importer, remits the VAT directly to the FTA, and relieves the retailer of the independent registration obligation. As of January 1, 2025, the so-called platform taxation applies to sales via platforms like Galaxus—Digitec Galaxus AG is classified as the service provider to the end customer under tax law and remits the VAT centrally.

Regarding customs procedures, the so-called Cassis de Dijon principle is also relevant: it generally allows the import of products that comply with EU regulations into Switzerland as well—without the need for a separate Swiss approval. This significantly simplifies market approval for EU-compliant products but does not apply unrestrictedly to all product categories. For goods with specific Swiss product regulations—such as in the food or medical sectors—the national provisions are still decisive.

Support from Distributors

Another problem that you often face without the support of a distributor is the applicable customs duties. You can efficiently solve this by collaborating with a distributor:

• Logistics and Customs Clearance: A distributor like SURS can handle the entire logistics and customs clearance.

• Avoidance of Customs Problems: Retailers do not have to deal with Switzerland's complicated customs regulations, which simplifies the import processes.

In summary, collaborating with a distributor offers you significant relief in customs processing. And it allows you as an EU retailer to efficiently enter the Swiss market, which makes selling via Digitec Galaxus in Switzerland much more attractive for you.

What is the Best Way for a Non-Swiss Retailer to Sell on Digitec Galaxus?

If you, as an international retailer, want to be present on Digitec Galaxus but do not have the capacity to independently meet the strict requirements of the Swiss market, a distributor like SURS can offer the ideal solution. SURS handles the entire listing of your products, warehousing, and shipping to end customers:

Advantages of Collaborating with SURS AG

• Customs and Import Processing: SURS takes care of all customs formalities and ensures that your products are imported into Switzerland smoothly.

• Warehousing and Logistics: Your goods are professionally stored and efficiently managed in the company's own warehouses, saving you storage costs and logistical challenges.

• Product Launches: SURS supports you in the successful launch of your products on Digitec Galaxus by handling the entire process from product listing to sales processing.

• Simplified Market Entry: By using the infrastructure, such as the existing retailer and supplier accounts, and the expertise of SURS, entry into the Swiss market is made considerably easier, saving you time and money.

By collaborating with SURS AG, you can focus on what's essential—your business growth—while SURS takes care of the operational and logistical details. This way, you benefit from a strong presence on Switzerland's largest marketplace without having to deal with the complex requirements of the market yourself.

FAQs

What are the advantages of selling on Digitec Galaxus?

Sellers benefit from a large customer base, extensive reach, and comprehensive marketing. Digitec Galaxus handles customer service and payment processing, offering professional product management and efficient logistics solutions, making it easier to get started.

How does the sales process work on Digitec Galaxus?

Sellers can either sell directly to end customers or store their products in Digitec Galaxus central warehouses, from where Digitec Galaxus takes care of shipping. Technical integration is done via interfaces or platforms like Magento or Shopify.

What are the requirements for sellers on Digitec Galaxus?

Sellers must provide electronic connectivity and pay variable sales fees. There are no basic fees. International sellers must meet additional legal and tax requirements, including customs processing.

How can international sellers sell on Digitec Galaxus?

International sellers leverage the infrastructure and expertise of a distribution partner like SURS, which handles listing, storage, and shipping to facilitate market entry and customs clearance challenges.

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