Proposition
Define the customer problem and the reason both buyers and sellers should participate.
Marketplace strategy
A marketplace is an operating system, not a catalogue.
Winning supply, demand and economics at the same time requires more than technology. The proposition, seller model, assortment, fulfilment and trading rhythm have to reinforce one another.
The marketplace system
Six connected decisions shape the outcome.
Seller ecosystem
Design acquisition, onboarding, standards, incentives and account management as one supply engine.
Assortment
Build depth and availability around real demand rather than chasing catalogue size.
Economics
Model take rate, margin, fulfilment, returns, CAC and service costs before subsidising growth.
Delivery layer
Treat fulfilment and the customer promise as growth assets, not back-office functions.
Trading cadence
Run categories with accountable owners, live measures and a repeatable commercial rhythm.
Perspective
Built from first-hand experience
Haris founded Roumaan.com, Oman's first multi-category online marketplace, and built its proposition, seller network and operating model from a blank sheet.
Later roles added country-launch, regional distribution, D2C and turnaround experience—the adjacent disciplines that determine whether a marketplace can scale beyond its first transactions.
Marketplace questions worth answering early
Why this market?
What structural gap makes the marketplace more useful than an established retailer or direct channel?
Why will sellers stay?
What demand, tooling, service or economics improves their business?
Who owns the customer promise?
Where do delivery, returns, quality and support responsibilities sit?
What becomes defensible?
Which part of supply, data, operations or customer habit strengthens with scale?
Next conversation
Building or repairing a marketplace?
Bring the thesis, current economics and market context.