Start A Health & Wellness Marketplace: Development & Supplier Management

If you're a health and wellness brand looking to manage your dropshipping suppliers, or a retailer looking to expand your online presence, or perhaps an entrepreneur seeking to revolutionize the discovery of health practitioners and wellness coaches, you might find this blog incredibly useful.

This blog highlights

• The types of marketplaces best suited for health products and wellness goals— product-based, used-goods, service-based, or P2P listings.
• Covers essential features to have in a marketplace for wellness products and services.
• The steps to launch a successful multi-vendor marketplace platform.

But first, let's look at some of the established multi-vendor e-commerce in the health and wellness market.

‍

1. Established health and wellness marketplaces

Market trends show a steady increase in online sales within the healthcare industry. The global health and wellness market is expected to reach $8.5 trillion by 2027, driven by online sales.

‍Thrive Market is the leading global marketplace in this niche—

• Operates on a membership-based model, where users pay an annual or monthly fee to access discounted prices on high-quality products.
• Allows users to sort products by dietary needs, lifestyle choices, and health concerns—like gluten-free, vegan, paleo, keto, and non-GMO.
• Makes healthy living accessible to all by offering free memberships to low-income families, teachers, veterans, and first responders.

Another is iHerb—

• Offers an impressive variety of over 30,000 health and wellness products, including supplements, vitamins, natural beauty products, and organic groceries.
• Provides international shipping to over 185 countries, ensuring that people across different regions have access to high-quality products.
• Has strict quality control standards and partners directly with reputable brands, ensuring all products are authentic and meet regulatory guidelines.

Adding to it, Shipturtle has been instrumental in building scalable multi-vendor marketplaces in health and wellness niches like CoraHealth, Nutristar, and Rightlife. We will briefly explore their unique features and key takeaways to inspire your next big idea.

‍

I. Best for health enthusiasts: CoraHealth

A health-focused marketplace that matches products from leading brands with users’ fitness goals like weight loss or immunity boosting. It offers curated and personalized dietary supplements with science-backed benefits.

Positioned as India’s largest health store, it provides preservative-free, sugar-free, and guilt-free options, including breakfast essentials, snacks, and protein supplements. Here's what makes CoraHealth unique:

Key features:

1. Personalized recommendations: CoraHealth connects users with nutritionists for tailored advice on diets and product selection, enhancing customer engagement and trust.
2. Wide product range: The platform boasts over 5,000 products, emphasizing natural and healthy options, catering to diverse dietary needs.
3. Customer focus: Features like free shipping, cash-on-delivery options, and discounts (e.g., up to 50% cashback) improve the shopping experience.

II. Best for fitness & nutrition buffs: Nutristar

With a focus on authenticity, quality, and competitive pricing, Nutristar has positioned itself as a trusted distributor for fitness enthusiasts and health-conscious individuals. Here's a closer look at what makes Nutristar unique and how it can inspire your next big idea:

Key features:

1. Wide product range: Nutristar offers an extensive collection of protein powders, health supplements, and fitness products from globally recognized brands like Optimum Nutrition, MuscleTech, and more. They also focus on unique flavors like "Malai Kulfi" and "Belgian Chocolate," catering to diverse taste preferences.
2. Authenticity assurance: The platform ensures product authenticity by sourcing directly from brands or their authorized importers, eliminating unauthorized resellers. This builds trust among customers.
3. Customer-centric policies: The platform offers a 7-day return policy with clear guidelines, ensuring peace of mind for buyers. They also support robust customer reviews to guide purchases.

III. Best for holistic wellness: Rightlife

The RightLife website offers a range of premium health and wellness products, categorized into areas like health foods, supplements, natural skincare, and essential oils. It promotes sustainable, vegan, and fair-trade items, with products for specific needs like lung detox, sleep aids, and fitness gear. The platform also provides insights through its blog on wellness topics and includes customer testimonials highlighting product benefits.

‍

With 400+ pre-built workflows and customizable solutions via open APIs, Shipturtle is benefitting these marketplaces with:

• Managed listings, order fulfillment, and logistics from 100+ suppliers.
• Bulk product listing tools for high-volume inventory.
• Automated inventory updates for large-scale product categories.
• Streamlined order processing and fulfillment with 200+ carrier intergations.
• Manage orders based on geo-locations and PIN codes.
• Five-level commission structure and integrated payouts via Stripe/PayPal.

2. Recommended marketplace types

Choosing the suitable model is crucial when building an online marketplace. Each model has its strengths, and the choice depends on your audience and business objectives.

I. Product-based marketplace

Example: iHerb

This is your usual marketplace type.

Product-based marketplaces focus on physical goods, such as supplements, fitness equipment, personal care products, and wellness gadgets, that consumers seek to maintain a healthy life.

Vendors typically manage their inventory, while the platform facilitates the listing, transaction, and logistics.‍

II. Pre-owned sports & gym equipment marketplace

Example: Play It Again Sports

In a second-hand marketplace, users buy and sell pre-owned wellness equipment, such as workout gear, health devices, and yoga mats, supporting sustainability and affordability in wellness.

III. Peer-to-Peer (P2P) marketplace

Example: Zocdoc

A P2P marketplace facilitates direct exchanges between individual sellers and buyers. It supports small businesses offering unique, often artisan-made wellness products. You can even have health practitioners list their services.‍

IV. Service-based marketplace

Example: Etsy (Digital downloads)

Service-based markets connect users with wellness professionals, offering services like yoga classes, nutrition consultations, fitness coaching, or mental health therapy.

These platforms act as intermediaries, allowing consumers to browse, compare, and book services directly.

For vendors, service-based platforms handle scheduling, payments, and client communication, simplifying business operations.

3. Marketplace features that your target audience will love

If you are deciding on a Product-based or Service-based marketplace, enhance the user experience for your target audience with the following features:

• Inventory management: Webhooks-powered real-time sync for vendor inventory and push orders ensures a seamless shopping experience. It eliminates over-selling/underselling and streamlines order processing and fulfillment.

• Logistics and shipping solutions: Keep your customers informed by real-time tracking updates. Integrating with various logistics providers can reduce shipping costs and provide competitive pricing options for customers.

• Subscription options: Enhance customer retention and convenience by offering subscription services for recurring purchases, particularly for items like supplements or skincare. Amazon does it with hair beauty products and everyday essentials.

• Scheduling and booking system: Integrated calendar and booking features allow customers to schedule appointments with wellness providers like nutritionists, yoga instructors, or fitness coaches. You can offer real-time availability checking to make it easy for users to book sessions without back-and-forth coordination.

• Digital products: Offer subscription-based digital products, such as fitness programs, wellness apps, and educational content on health.

• Vendor commissions and payouts: Secure payment processing with options for pre-payments, cancellations, and refunds, providing a smooth experience for both providers and clients.

• Buyer-Seller communication: A chat feature allows users to ask questions and negotiate prices, enhancing transparency and satisfaction.

4. Key steps to start an ecommerce marketplace using Shipturtle

You can easily build a feature-rich multivendor marketplace following five simple steps:

• Step 1: Set up your cart platform
• Step 2: Choose your multivendor plugin
• Step 3: Connect multiple vendor stores
• Step 4: Leverage powerful workflows & integrations
• Step 5: Customize with open APIs
• Step 6: Promotion strategies your marketplace
  

Note: A unique domain name and a hosting plan is a prerequisite.

Step 1: Set up your cart platform

You need to establish a strong foundation by setting up your eCommerce platform.

Platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce or Magento serve as the base, enabling you to create a marketplace tailored to your business needs. Here's how to do it:

• Visit the Shopify website and create an account.
• For Woocommerce, you need to install WordPress and then activate Woocommerce plugin on it.‍
• Choose a compatible website theme that aligns with your marketplace’s niche.

Step 2: Choose your multivendor plugin

Having your cart platform ready ensures your store is ready to transform into a multivendor marketplace using tools like Shipturtle. From here, you can scale operations by integrating multivendor functionality.

By installing Shipturtle, you'll unlock all the tools needed to create and manage a multivendor marketplace for any niche, including health supplements and wellness products.

If you still have any confusion go through the App Overview video tutorial.

Step 3: Connect multiple vendor to your store

Shipturtle allows you to connect stores across Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Squarespace, Wix, and even offline stores. Vendors can sync their inventory and sales seamlessly across platforms. This cross-platform connectivity is perfect for scaling your marketplace and attracting sellers from various ecosystems.

Our Vendor Sync feature works via Webhooks and not APIs. This eliminates overselling and underselling completely, promising upto 10% boost in revenue. Moreover, Shipturtle's super strong reconciliation mechanism and change log ensures accurate inventory almost all the time!

If you still have any confusion go through the Vendor Module video tutorial.

Step 4: Leverage powerful workflows & integrations

Shipturtle equips your multivendor marketplace with 400+ workflows & 5000+ integrations. Together, the robust modules automate and simplify operations, allowing you to scale effectively while keeping processes under control. Here’s a closer look at its powerful workflows and integrations:

I. Product listing module

Empower vendors to manage their own product catalogs effortlessly. Vendors can:

• Add, edit, or delete products directly from their dashboard.
• Upload bulk products using CSV files, saving time for large inventories.
• Organize products into categories with custom tags for better discoverability.

You, as the marketplace admin, retain ultimate control, with the ability to approve or reject listings, ensuring quality and consistency across the marketplace.

If you still have any confusion go through the Products & Listings Module video tutorial.

II. Orders module

Streamline order processing with Shipturtle’s automated order management system:

• Automatically split orders among vendors based on products purchased.
• Vendors receive order notifications and can manage fulfillment directly from their dashboards.
• Track orders end-to-end, providing real-time updates to customers and vendors alike.

This ensures accurate order handling, prevents delays, and maintains a smooth buyer experience.

If you still have any confusion go through the Orders Module video tutorial.

III. Payouts module

Simplify payouts to vendors with Shipturtle’s flexible options:

• Set commission rates on five levels for each vendor, whether it’s a flat fee, percentage, or a mix.
• Automate payouts using out-of-box Stripe, PayPal, or Razorpay integrations.
• Generate detailed reports to ensure every vendor receives accurate earnings on time.

This transparency builds trust among your vendors and streamlines your financial processes.

If you still have any confusion go through the Payouts Module video tutorial.

IV. Shipping module

Logistics made easy with Shipturtle’s advanced shipping features:

• Set up global shipping rules or customize rates for each vendor based on location or product type.
• Offer customers multiple shipping options, from standard to expedited delivery.
• Integrate with 200+ third-party logistics providers like FedEx, UPS, or local courier services for smooth delivery operations.

The module ensures vendors can efficiently handle shipping while you retain control over the overall customer experience.

If you still have any confusion go through the Shipping Module video tutorial.

Step 5: Customize with open APIs

Take your marketplace to the next level with open API support. Whether you need unique workflows, advanced analytics, or specialized payment gateways, Shipturtle's customizable API infrastructure allows you to build tailored solutions. This flexibility ensures your marketplace evolves with your business needs and customer expectations.

5. Healthcare and wellness marketplace app development

As the healthcare industry evolves, embracing new trends and technologies will be key to staying competitive. Whether it’s adopting AI, expanding into global markets, or a marketplace mobile app development, there are countless opportunities for growth.

Shipturtle specializes in creating scalable, multivendor marketplace solutions tailored to specific niches like healthcare and wellness. Here's how it helps:

• Customizable Platforms: Adjust features like appointment booking, inventory management, or telehealth based on your business model.
• Seamless Vendor Onboarding: Simplifies integrating multiple suppliers or service providers.
• Scalability: Built to grow with your marketplace, handling both B2B and B2C operations.

If you’re ready to take the next step in building your online store, reach out to Shipturtle for a personalized consultation. Together, we can create a platform that meets market demands, supports consumers in their wellness journey, and drives lasting success.