Mercado

What Mercado does

Mercado (legal entity: Ker'ching Studio Ltd.) is a UK-headquartered digital commerce agency operating across two service verticals: Amazon Marketing Services and TikTok Commerce Services. The Amazon division provides full-funnel support to 7-figure Amazon sellers, covering market insights, storefront optimization, PPC strategy, conversion optimization, algorithm strategy, competitive analysis, and full-service account management. The TikTok division serves direct-to-consumer brands with end-to-end capabilities spanning TikTok Shop setup and management, live shopping broadcasts with in-house hosts across four studios, affiliate program recruitment and management (12,000+ affiliates activated), and TikTok Ads management. The company delivers structured engagements via a Decode-Build-Ship-Compound methodology under a management fee plus performance tier pricing model, with client-reported outcomes including ACoS reduction from 45% to 15%, 4.1x ROAS, +150% YoY sales growth, and £4.3M TikTok GMV driven in 2025.

Founded in London (company history source: 2022; firmographics source: 2015 — discrepancy noted), Mercado is led by four co-founders — Jules Kovač (CCO), Amara Thorne, Ren Saito (Creative), and Mo Farouk (COO) — and operates from offices in London, Leeds, and Dubai. The company is privately held, bootstrapped (no external funding rounds disclosed), and serves a customer base of 50+ active 7-figure Amazon sellers and 200+ clients transformed over its operating history, with case-study logos concentrated in beauty, skincare, activewear, home, and food DTC verticals. Mercado has been recognized by Adweek (Fastest Growing Agency), DRUM (Social Media Agency of the Year), Campaign Agency Awards (three-time Global Agency of the Year finalist), and awarded Best Large Social Agency for three consecutive years.

The company's technology stack is not proprietary; Mercado operates as a professional services firm rather than a SaaS business, monetizing through agency management fees and performance-based tiers rather than software licensing. No patents, AI/ML models, integrations, or APIs are disclosed in the available data, and there are no identified external investors, parent companies, or subsidiaries. Customer acquisition is sales-led, leveraging free Amazon and TikTok audits as lead magnets, website CTAs for call booking, and direct outreach.

Name

Mercado

Legal name

Ker'ching Studio Ltd.

Website

https://themercado.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mercado (Ker'ching Studio Ltd.) is a UK-headquartered digital commerce agency offering Amazon marketing services for 7-figure sellers and TikTok commerce services (Shop, Live, Affiliate, Ads) for DTC brands, operating from London, Leeds, and Dubai studios.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Marketing Agency Services

NAICS

Media Buying Agencies (541830)

SIC

Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Merchandising Services (Field Merchandising, Audits, Compliance) (MPAAAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Retail Merchandising Execution & Field Marketing Services (CRAOAOAB)

Keywords

• Amazon agency services
• TikTok commerce services
• Digital marketing agency
• Marketplace advertising services
• Social commerce management

Headquarters

HQ city

Leeds

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Amazon Agency Services: Full-service Amazon management including PPC strategy, listing optimization, algorithm strategy, and storefront optimization. Revenue generated through agency management fees.
2. TikTok Commerce Services: TikTok Shop setup and management, TikTok Live broadcasting services, and affiliate program management. Pricing model combines management fees with performance tiers. Affiliate commissions are paid directly through TikTok by clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Mercado is a digital marketing agency that provides full-funnel Amazon seller services (market insights, storefront optimization, PPC strategy, conversion optimization, algorithm strategy, and full-service account management) and end-to-end TikTok commerce services (TikTok Shop setup, Live shopping broadcasts, affiliate/creator program management, paid TikTok ads, and full TikTok channel management) to 7-figure Amazon sellers and DTC brands. Services are delivered through managed engagements via four physical studios in London, Leeds, and Dubai.

Product overview

Mercado is a full-service digital marketing agency offering two primary service verticals: Amazon Marketing Services and TikTok Services. The Amazon division provides market insights, storefront optimization, PPC strategy, conversion optimization, algorithm strategy, competitive analysis, and social media management. The TikTok division offers end-to-end TikTok Shop management, live shopping broadcasts, affiliate program management, TikTok Ads, and comprehensive full-service TikTok channel management. The company operates four physical studios across the UK and UAE and serves DTC brands seeking to grow through marketplace and social commerce channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Amazon Marketing Services Full-funnel Amazon seller services including market insights, storefront optimization, PPC strategy, conversion optimization, algorithm strategy, competitive analysis, and full-service account management to help brands reduce ad waste and scale profitably on Amazon. Target buyers are 7-figure Amazon sellers and brand owners.
• TikTok Shop Services End-to-end TikTok Shop management including storefront setup, shoppable content, catalog management, and Spark Ads strategy for DTC brands seeking to sell directly on TikTok.
• TikTok Live Services Live shopping broadcast services with in-house hosts across four studio locations, live show scripting and production, pre-show teasers, and post-show clips for DTC brands.
• TikTok Affiliate Programs Creator recruitment, training, and management services to build affiliate programs that sell products through TikTok, including creator vetting, sampling, commission design, and performance reporting.
• TikTok Ads Management Paid TikTok advertising services including creative system development, UGC-style ad asset creation, and performance optimization for DTC brands.
• Full TikTok Management Comprehensive TikTok channel management combining TikTok Shop, Live, Affiliate Programs, and paid ads into a unified growth strategy for DTC brands.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces ACOS from 45% to 15%
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pacvue: Pacvue is a leading commerce-focused agency and SaaS platform that runs Amazon and Walmart advertising for brands. Closely comparable to Mercado given the shared Amazon advertising services focus and overlapping mid-market to enterprise seller client base.
• House of Marketers: TikTok Shop specialist agency helping DTC brands set up and scale TikTok Shop, Live, and affiliate programs. Direct competitor in Mercado's TikTok services vertical with overlapping Beauty, Skincare, and Home brand clients.
• Teikametrics: Teikametrics combines AI-powered Amazon advertising software with managed services for sellers and agencies. Comparable in target audience (7-figure Amazon sellers) and service scope (PPC optimization, algorithm strategy).
• Perpetua: Perpetua provides Amazon and Walmart advertising optimization and managed services for 7-figure sellers. Direct comparison to Mercado's Amazon PPC, ACoS reduction, and ROAS improvement offerings.
• inBeat Agency: inBeat is a TikTok-focused creator and UGC agency working with DTC brands to scale TikTok Ads, affiliate programs, and influencer marketing. Comparable in creator/affiliate activation and short-form content execution for DTC clients.
• Helium 10 (Ads / Liberty): Helium 10 offers Amazon seller tools and managed advertising services, including Helium 10 Ads. Comparable as an end-to-end partner for Amazon sellers focused on profitable scaling.

Emerging players

• Jungle Scout Cobalt: Jungle Scout Cobalt provides data-driven Amazon brand management and advertising services to sellers and agencies. Adjacent to Mercado given overlapping Amazon seller client base and optimization focus.
• The Socializers: TheSocializers is a TikTok and social commerce agency specializing in TikTok Shop for DTC and beauty brands. Direct overlap in TikTok Shop, live, and affiliate program services for DTC clients.

Broad incumbents

• WPP / GroupM Amazon Commerce Practice: WPP through GroupM operates a dedicated Amazon and commerce media practice serving enterprise brands. Indirectly comparable as a larger incumbent offering competing Amazon and marketplace commerce services across global markets.
• Tinuiti: Tinuiti is a large independent performance marketing agency with Amazon, retail media, and social commerce practices. Comparable as a broader e-commerce agency competing for similar DTC brand budgets and marketplace advertising clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• TikTokthemercado.co.uk/tiktok

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mercado