The way we buy and sell products and services has undergone a sea change, with online and offline channels merging into digital commerce. Consumers mainly use digital channels to find products and services in the Netherlands and abroad and to purchase them where and when it suits them. Our goal is to increase confidence in e-commerce and facilitate buying and selling products and services online.
Thuiswinkel.org is a leading inspirational e-commerce network that helps stores and e-retailers that sell products and/or services, businesses and their employees to be more successful. We offer relevant and practical solutions with our Thuiswinkel Waarborg, Thuiswinkel Business & Shopping Secure trustmarks, Thuiswinkel Reviews, legal tools, advocacy, market research and our Thuiswinkel e-Academy learning platform.
Consumers mainly know us through our Thuiswinkel Waarborg, a trustmark that assures consumers they’re dealing with a reliable, safe e-retailer and that can only be obtained after passing a thorough certification process. It is no coincidence that 93% of consumers know our logo and 72% are more likely to buy from an online store bearing our trustmark.
As an advocacy group, we do more than just issue trustmarks: we stand up for the interests of Dutch and foreign e-retailers and assist our members with free legal advice, research and our network, as well as by sharing knowledge through our ShoppingTomorrow platform. On top of that, we provide valuable business tools and created the successful Thuiswinkel Waarborg Reviews. Through the Thuiswinkel e-Academy, we help our members employees learn the tricks of the trade.
Thuiswinkel.org has more than 2,000 members who sell online products and services to consumers. Together, our members represent more than 70% of consumer spending in the Netherlands. They come from every conceivable industry, such as travel, apparel, consumer electronics, insurance, sports, toys, homeware, brown and white goods, dating, IT and software. Thanks to the diversity of its members, Thuiswinkel.org is a leading partner for policymakers, stakeholders and political decision-makers.
On December 20, 2000, 38 companies joined forces to found Thuiswinkel.org, marking the formal merger of two existing associations, the Dutch Mail Order Association and the Association of Online Retailers. The two organizations decided to continue as a new advocacy group for all physical and digital stores in the Netherlands: Thuiswinkel.org.
As we’re an association, we do not have a profit motive, which means the fees we charge are only used to fund activities and initiatives to benefit our members. Our events are funded by ticket sales and sponsorships. We even set up a separate foundation for the Thuiswinkel Awards: Stichting Nationale Thuiswinkel Awards.
Members of Thuiswinkel.org have a say in how the association is run through the General Assembly. The association’s policy is set by the board, which consists of CEOs of member stores, as elected by the members. Our CEO, Marlene ten Ham, is responsible for the general management of Thuiswinkel.org.
Members can also help decide our advocacy positions by serving on various digital committees dedicated to relevant digital commerce issues, such as e-commerce, payment, privacy, fraud, security and logistics.
Our members must adhere to our Articles of Association and our Internal Regulations.
To be able to influence European rules and regulations and to work towards a positive business climate, Thuiswinkel.org has joined up with about 20 other national advocacy groups in Ecommerce Europe.
Thuiswinkel.org won the prestigious Mans Lejeune Award in 2014. In its report, the judging panel stated that Thuiswinkel.org is “one of a kind in Europe, and perhaps even in the entire world [...], representing e-commerce as a whole, rather than a particular sector or industry.” Thuiswinkel.org emerged victorious from a shortlist of 10 organizations. "Thuiswinkel.org has distinguished itself by taking a cross-sector approach to the role of associations, acting as a 'horizontal', themed network of branches rather than single, 'vertical' branch organization."