Could resale be recession-proof?
Investors including Snapchat-owner Snap Inc., software company Homebrew, as well as venture firms Floodgate and Banana Capital, seem to think so. They contributed to a $7 million funding round for Galaxy, an app that allows influencers and store owners to sell secondhand clothing and accessories, the startup announced Thursday.
Like Depop, Galaxy allows individuals to create stores on the platform. But rather than photos, each listing features a video of the seller showcasing the product. Already, the platform has brought on TikTok influencers like Maddie White who want to monetise their audience.
The video-centric model borrows from China’s playbook for successful livestream commerce, where streams are typically hosted by influencers, drawing sales from their engaged online communities and fans. The Lobby, a multi-brand online retailer, also leverages video content from influencers as the main media on its website.
The concept blends shopping and entertaining, “making the experience of the resale more enjoyable,” said founders Danny Quick, Nathan McCartney and Brandon Briston.
Sellers can go live on the app and users tuning can purchase pieces in real-time, or they can upload pre-recorded videos showing off their clothing on offer.
Galaxy will use its recent funding to scale the business, developing its machine learning capabilities to improve personalised product recommendations. It also wants to recruit more sellers, including brands.
The service will compete with Depop on lower commission fees per sale, McCartney said. It doesn’t yet charge its 500-plus sellers to use the platform but plans to drive revenue by charging a flat fee of $15 to $20 per month.
Galaxy has also found success in growing its network of sellers and customers through hosting in-real-life retail events too, Quick added. It hosted “closet cleanout” pop-ups in New York and Los Angeles, where high-profile sellers call out their followers to come to shop their wardrobes, with the added draw of being able to meet their favourite influencers in person.
These events are designed to draw new customers into Galaxy’s resale platform — attendees are encouraged to bring their own clothes and sell them in person, either for cash or credit on the app.
