solely as an online marketplace, where third party retailers sell products with their listings hosted on the website. All retailers on the Marketplace have the ability to build a fully branded and customised storefront, giving them control of how their products are merchandised. Replacement with Rakuten In October 2014 Rakuten launched Rakuten.co.uk, which replaced Play.com completely on 23 March 2015. Rakuten UK to close On 7 June 2016 Rakuten announced plans for changes in the business in the UK. Rakuten.co.uk in its existing format would no longer be available after the end of August 2016 for new purchases. Rakuten.co.uk was then relaunched in October 2016 as a portal to earn "Superpoints" from using online shops such as Topman, HMV and B&Q. References External links Archived version of play247.com, circa 2000 Online retailers of the United Kingdom Retail companies established in 1998 Internet properties established in 1998 British subsidiaries of foreign companies Companies of Jersey Rakuten 1998 establishments in Jersey