What are examples of e-commerce?
E-commerce means buying and selling things using the internet. It’s like a big online marketplace where people can shop without leaving their homes. E-commerce has changed how we buy everything from clothes to food to cars. When you order pizza from an app or buy shoes from a website, you’re using e-commerce. It makes shopping easier and lets businesses reach customers all over the world.
Major Types of E-commerce
Business to Consumer (B2C)
B2C e-commerce happens when companies sell directly to regular people who will use the products themselves. This is the most common type that most of us use every day. Companies make websites or apps where customers can browse products, add items to a digital shopping cart, and pay using credit cards or other online payment methods.
Business to Business (B2B)
B2B e-commerce takes place when businesses sell products or services to other businesses. These transactions are usually bigger and more complex than B2C sales. For example, a company might buy office supplies, raw materials, or software services from another business through an online ordering system.
Consumer to Consumer (C2C)
C2C e-commerce happens when regular people sell things to other people. Online marketplaces help connect sellers with buyers and provide a way for them to complete their transactions safely. This type of e-commerce has made it easier than ever for people to sell things they no longer need or to turn hobbies into small businesses.
Popular E-commerce Examples Around the World
| Company | Type | What They Sell | Special Features | Founded | Interesting Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | B2C/C2C | Almost everything | Prime delivery, AWS cloud services | 1994 | Started as just an online bookstore |
| Alibaba | B2B/B2C | Wholesale goods, consumer products | Connects manufacturers with businesses | 1999 | Bigger than Amazon and eBay combined in some metrics |
| eBay | C2C/B2C | New and used goods | Auctions, fixed price listings | 1995 | First item sold was a broken laser pointer |
| Shopify | B2B | E-commerce platform | Helps businesses create online stores | 2006 | Powers over 1.7 million businesses worldwide |
| Etsy | C2C | Handmade, vintage, craft supplies | Focus on unique and handcrafted items | 2005 | Has over 4.3 million active sellers |
| Walmart.com | B2C | Groceries, household goods | In-store pickup options | 2000 | Uses physical stores as delivery hubs |
| Wayfair | B2C | Furniture, home goods | 3D room visualization tools | 2002 | Carries over 18 million items |
| Mercado Libre | B2C/C2C | Various goods | Latin America’s largest marketplace | 1999 | Operates in 18 countries |
| Rakuten | B2C | Various goods | Rewards program, financial services | 1997 | Name means “optimism” in Japanese |
Specialized E-commerce Examples
Digital Product E-commerce
Some e-commerce businesses sell products that exist only in digital form. These include:
Steam and Epic Games Store sell video games that customers download directly to their computers. Netflix and Disney+ offer streaming movies and TV shows for a monthly fee instead of selling physical DVDs. Spotify and Apple Music provide access to millions of songs without needing to buy CDs or vinyl records. Kindle Store and Audible sell e-books and audiobooks that can be read or listened to on electronic devices.
Service-Based E-commerce
Many services can now be purchased online too:
Uber and Lyft let people book and pay for rides using their smartphones. Airbnb connects travelers with people who have spare rooms or homes to rent. Grubhub and DoorDash allow customers to order food delivery from local restaurants. TaskRabbit helps people find others who can help with small jobs and errands.
Subscription E-commerce
Subscription services charge customers regularly (often monthly) for products or services:
HelloFresh and Blue Apron deliver meal kits with recipes and ingredients. Dollar Shave Club and Birchbox send grooming products on a regular schedule. Stitch Fix provides personalized clothing selections based on customer preferences. Microsoft 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud offer software access for monthly payments instead of one-time purchases.
E-commerce Around the World
North American E-commerce
In the United States and Canada, Amazon dominates the e-commerce landscape, but Walmart, Target, and Best Buy have strong online presences too. Shopify, a Canadian company, powers many independent online stores. American consumers are comfortable buying almost anything online, from groceries to furniture to cars.
Asian E-commerce Giants
Asia has some of the world’s largest e-commerce companies. Alibaba and JD.com are massive marketplaces in China. Rakuten is a major player in Japan. Flipkart and Amazon compete in India’s growing market. Asian e-commerce often leads in mobile shopping and payment innovations like QR code payments and super-apps that combine shopping with other services.
European E-commerce Landscape
Europe has both region-wide platforms and country-specific marketplaces. Amazon operates across many European countries, while ASOS specializes in fashion. Zalando is popular for clothing in Germany and nearby countries. Otto is a major player in Germany, and Cdiscount is important in France. European e-commerce must navigate different languages, currencies, and regulations across countries.
The Future of E-commerce
E-commerce keeps changing as technology improves. Voice shopping through smart speakers like Amazon Echo is becoming more common. Augmented reality lets shoppers “try on” clothes or see how furniture would look in their homes before buying. Social commerce combines shopping with social media platforms like Instagram Shopping and Facebook Marketplace. Live shopping streams, where hosts demonstrate products in real-time videos, are especially popular in Asia and gaining ground elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the first e-commerce website?
The first recognized e-commerce transaction happened in 1994 when a person bought a CD (Sting’s “Ten Summoner’s Tales”) on NetMarket, a website created by Dan Kohn. However, Amazon, founded the same year, would go on to become the most famous early e-commerce success story.
Is PayPal an example of e-commerce?
PayPal is not exactly an e-commerce business itself, but rather a payment service that helps e-commerce happen. It’s an example of a “financial technology” or “fintech” company that makes online shopping easier and safer by letting people pay without sharing their credit card details with every website.
Can small businesses compete with big e-commerce companies?
Yes! Small businesses can compete by focusing on special products, excellent customer service, and personal touches that big companies can’t match. Many small businesses use platforms like Shopify, Etsy, or even Amazon Marketplace to reach customers without building their own websites from scratch.
Is social media shopping considered e-commerce?
Absolutely! When you buy something through Instagram Shopping, Facebook Marketplace, or Pinterest shopping pins, that’s definitely e-commerce. This growing trend called “social commerce” combines social media browsing with shopping, making it easy to buy products you see in your feed.
How safe is it to shop on e-commerce websites?
Most established e-commerce sites are quite safe, but it’s always smart to check that a website is secure before entering payment information. Look for “https” in the web address and a lock symbol in your browser. Using payment services like PayPal or credit cards (not debit cards) gives you extra protection if something goes wrong with your purchase.