Can a multi-vendor marketplace using Webflow be built? If so, do you have any recommendations for platforms and tools, other than Swell, that could be used for inventory management within the marketplace?

Yes, you can build a multi-vendor marketplace using Webflow, but it requires combining Webflow with external tools for e-commerce functionality, vendor management, and inventory tracking. Since Webflow doesn't natively support multi-vendor systems or advanced back-end logic, third-party integrations are essential.

1. Webflow Setup for Front-End

• Use Webflow for front-end design of your marketplace, including vendor pages, product pages, and customer UI.
• Enable CMS Collections to structure vendor profiles, product listings, and potentially track basic inventory display.

2. Recommended Inventory Management & Marketplace Tools (Non-Swell)

Here are platforms that can help handle multi-vendor logic and inventory management:

• Fabrica: A headless commerce platform with multi-vendor capabilities, real-time inventory syncing, and API flexibility. You can connect it to Webflow via custom scripts or a middleware platform like Make or Zapier.
• Medusa: An open-source headless e-commerce platform that supports multiple vendors and has a powerful product/inventory engine. It requires a custom backend (Node.js), linked to Webflow via APIs.
• Shopify with Marketplace Kit or Multi-Vendor Apps: Use Shopify’s storefront API to connect to Webflow. Use apps like Webkul’s multivendor plugin to allow vendor signups, inventory sync, and order split.
• Sharetribe: Designed specifically for marketplaces and can be used in "headless mode". You can connect it to Webflow via Zapier, Make, or custom integrations.
• Nautical Commerce: Built for multi-vendor commerce and packed with out-of-the-box features like inventory, order routing, and vendor portal. Note it’s geared towards enterprise use.

3. Connecting Everything with Middleware

• Use Zapier, Make (Integromat), or n8n to sync data between Webflow CMS, your e-commerce/inventory platform, and any vendor dashboards.
• Example: When a vendor updates a product in Medusa or Fabrica, a workflow updates the Webflow CMS to reflect stock and price changes.

4. Managing Vendor Access

• Use Memberstack, Outseta, or Auth0 to manage vendor logins and dashboards within a Webflow front-end.
• Vendors would interact with a protected dashboard, which integrates with your back end via API to show/manage their inventory and orders.

Summary

You can build a multi-vendor marketplace using Webflow as the front-end by integrating tools like Fabrica, Medusa, or Shopify (w/ Multi-Vendor apps) for back-end logic and inventory. Use automation platforms to sync your systems, and a user auth tool like Memberstack for managing vendor accounts.