The French second-hand service provider Rediv is planning international expansion. The company, which previously operated under the name Patatam, announced on Thursday that it would in future also be offering its services in Germany and the USA as part of a test phase.
This was preceded by a financing round in which the company was able to collect twelve million euros from its financial partners and shareholders. According to Rediv, the funds are to be used to expand capacities and further automate processes.
Founded in 2013, the company offers clothing suppliers and retailers a comprehensive service package for the second-hand fashion trade. It collects used clothing, sorts and stores it in its own logistics centers and also handles further distribution. By its own account, Rediv collected 2.5 million items last year and was able to bring 1.7 million of them back onto the market. The company supplied more than 400 second-hand sales outlets.
Eric Gagnaire, Rediv’s founder and president, now sees the time to take the next step: “Our business model is now mature,” he said in a statement. With its knowledge of collecting and sorting used clothing and the existing logistical capacities, the company offers its partner companies “extensive access to second-hand items” and complete, immediately available service solutions, explained Gagnaire. He also emphasized that the model is “most useful” for professional partners. The company’s own online trading platform Patatam.com was then already discontinued.