Struggling with marketplace fees and shrinking margins? Learn why going direct-to-consumer with the right ecommerce platform could be your smartest move in 2025.
By Miva | April 8, 2025
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Download PDFIf Amazon sneezes, your margins catch a cold.
That might sound dramatic, but for businesses selling on marketplaces, it hits close to home. One algorithm change, fee hike, or sudden competitor promotion can throw your sales off track. As ecommerce evolves (and gets more expensive), the way you sell matters more than ever.
For mid-market businesses, especially in auto parts ecommerce and high-SKU industries, selling direct-to-consumer (DTC) isn’t just a trend. It’s a strategy for long-term growth, brand control, and margin recovery. Let’s explore why.
It’s easy to see why marketplaces like Amazon and eBay are popular. You get instant access to massive audiences, streamlined logistics, and tools that make it simple to list products and start selling.
But that convenience comes at a cost:
• High Fees: Marketplace commissions can eat into your profits, especially as fees rise and new charges are introduced.
• Zero Customer Data: You never truly "own" your audience, making it harder to build loyalty or tailor experiences.
• Brand Erosion: Customers may remember the marketplace, not your brand, which weakens your long-term customer equity.
• Commoditized Competition: You’re competing with dozens of near-identical listings, leaving little room for differentiation or brand value.
Selling directly to your customers puts you back in the driver’s seat:
• You control the brand experience from homepage to delivery.
• You own the data from email addresses to purchase history.
• You can build long-term relationships and loyalty.
• You get higher margins without the middleman.
Going DTC can feel daunting, especially if you’re managing a complex product catalog. Fear of platform migration, limited internal resources, and the perception that DTC is for enterprise giants only hold many businesses back.
But the right platform can remove those barriers. Miva’s Auto Parts Ecommerce platform is built for complexity, giving sellers the tools they need to run high-SKU, high-performance storefronts without writing a single line of code.
You shouldn’t need a dev team to sell online. Miva offers a no-code, highly customizable platform so you can launch quickly and adapt as needed. Whether you're selling auto parts or industrial components, Miva helps streamline operations without the tech headache. Unlike other B2B ecommerce software solutions, Miva is built to support sellers with complex needs from day one.
Why it matters: This matters for sellers going DTC because it removes the technical roadblocks that often delay or derail direct selling strategies.
Managing thousands of SKUs? No problem. Miva handles large product catalogs with ease. From advanced product filtering to real-time inventory management, the platform is designed to grow with you.
Why it matters: For sellers shifting to DTC, this ensures your operations can scale without switching platforms or compromising performance.
Selling auto parts comes with unique challenges. Miva’s tailored features help automotive and wholesale businesses operate more efficiently and deliver a better customer experience. Miva is the ultimate wholesale ecommerce platform for sellers needing flexible pricing, segmentation, and tax logic.
Why it matters: This is essential for DTC success, where customers expect fast, accurate, and user-friendly experiences every time they shop.
Looking for an edge in the ecommerce automotive parts or wholesale B2B? Talk to us.
Unlike platforms that leave you to figure things out on your own, Miva offers dedicated onboarding, expert migration help, and hands-on ecommerce strategy support.
Why it matters: For sellers transitioning to DTC, having this level of expert guidance can make the difference between a smooth launch and an expensive misstep. It also supports seamless ecommerce platform migration, helping sellers avoid downtime and retain momentum.
Choosing a platform isn’t just about monthly fees—it’s about the long-term cost of running and growing your business. Miva reduces total cost of ownership (TCO) by eliminating plugin overload, reducing dev dependencies, and offering expert support that saves time and money.
In fact, Miva was recognized in the 2024 Paradigm B2B Combine for its standout performance in TCO and long-term value.
First-party data is becoming a critical asset. With DTC, you gain direct access to purchase behavior, engagement trends, and customer preferences. That means:
• Better personalization
• Smarter email campaigns
• Improved customer lifetime value
In a sea of competitors, branding is your anchor. DTC lets you control every touchpoint: product pages, packaging, post-purchase emails. That kind of consistency builds trust and drives repeat business.
For example, an auto parts seller using the Miva platform can highlight their expertise by customizing how they present fitment data, bundle products by vehicle make, and showcase how-to videos, none of which would be possible on a third-party marketplace.
Between rising marketplace fees and new tariffs, DTC is one of the few ways to regain pricing power. With control over promotions, bundling, and dynamic pricing, you’re in charge of protecting your margins.
Consider a wholesale seller who used to rely on Amazon. By switching to a DTC strategy with Miva, they eliminated platform fees and launched a loyalty program that increased average order value, something not possible when every customer relationship lived on someone else’s platform.
What are the biggest challenges of selling through third-party marketplaces?
Selling through marketplaces often means losing control over customer data, branding, and pricing. You also face increased competition with other sellers.
How does Miva simplify ecommerce for businesses with high SKU counts?
Miva’s platform is highly customizable and scalable, allowing businesses with thousands of SKUs to manage inventory, product data, and customer interactions effectively.
What is the best ecommerce solution for automotive businesses?
Miva’s ecommerce platform is ideal for the automotive industry, with features tailored to auto parts sales, wholesale ecommerce, and B2B transactions. It’s also perfect for building professional automotive ecommerce websites with features like fitment filters and rich product content.
How does Miva’s support compare to other platforms?
Miva offers white-glove support, ensuring that businesses have the guidance they need to succeed, with dedicated experts helping them every step of the way.
Ready to take control of your ecommerce future? Explore our Guide for an Ecommerce Migration or request a demo to see how Miva can help your business thrive on your terms.
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Miva
Miva offers a flexible and adaptable ecommerce platform that evolves with businesses and allows them to drive sales, maximize average order value, cut overhead costs, and increase revenue. Miva has been helping businesses realize their ecommerce potential for over 20 years and empowering retail, wholesale, and direct-to-consumer sellers across all industries to transform their business through ecommerce.
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