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Reshopper will be a nationwide chain of physical children’s clothing stores where you can buy used children’s clothing.
That was the ambition a year and a half ago, but integrating the digital and physical worlds into a circular super-concept, which was the plan at the time, has proved more difficult. Reshopper is now taking this into account and closing their two remaining physical stores in Valby and Taastrup on May 31.
Read also: Denmark’s largest marketplace for families with children opens nationwide chain of stores
“We dreamed of opening stores across the country that would integrate with our online marketplace. Unfortunately, we have come to realize that sustainability is not only about the environment, but also about the economy. We thank our users for supporting our bid to create an exciting new circular solution, but unfortunately the timing with the physical stores wasn’t quite right,” says Casper Blom, CEO of Reshopper.
However, this doesn’t mean that interest in second-hand children’s clothing is waning. On the contrary, Reshopper has defied the increasing competition and experienced massive growth in the digital part of the business. That’s why they are now speeding up development here.
Focus on digital growth
The birth rate is declining and competition for second-hand marketplaces is increasing; Facebook Marketplace has come roaring in, DBA has been bought by Norwegian Schibsted and Trendsales has become part of Vinted in Lithuania. Yet Reshopper’s 250,000 users have traded more used children’s items with each other than ever before.
New user growth has increased 50 percent compared to last year, while the number of plus subscriptions has doubled on a monthly basis compared to last year. This growth is partly driven by their secure shipping system, where the number of parcels has also increased massively. That’s why Reshopper is now also fully committed to digital development.
“With the closure of the two stores, we are freeing up valuable resources and energy that will be used 100 percent to improve and expand the functionality of the Reshopper app, which has always been at the core of our business,” says Casper Blom.
More peace of mind for users
To further differentiate itself from foreign concepts, Reshopper is rolling out a new feature alongside the closure of physical stores. A feature that will make families with children even safer and more secure when shopping in the app.
“With so much publicity about fraud in the media, it places great demands on the marketplaces to give users a good experience, which is why we continuously work on safety and security,” says Casper Blom and adds:
“This week we launched a comprehensive buyer and seller protection program, which will be further expanded in the coming months. It aims to give users peace of mind and make online second-hand shopping even safer and more secure. Buyer protection includes benefits such as up to 100 percent fraud and dispute coverage, protection against cyber fraud, delivery guarantee, secure integrated payment and extended support.”
In practice, buyer protection means that users pay an extra DKK 2.25-3 per month. Trading on the platform. If they have a problem with a transaction, they can contact Reshopper with the protection, who will get involved and help resolve the issue.
“It should be emphasized that with the new buyer protection, only a very small percentage will be about fraud. It will primarily be the fear and insecurity of receiving a used product that is not in the expected condition. But it all counts, which is why we want to increase the sense of security so we can get things circulating and get even more second-hand goods into play,” says Casper Blom.