In January 2015, Hanna Autio and Markus Rautopuro were sorting children's clothes in a living room in Espoo. Until recently, most of these clothes had been lying unused in the wardrobes and storage boxes of relatives and friends. Now, the used but well-kept clothes and accessories were part of the selection of a brand-new second-hand online store, and soon many of them would be beautifully packaged and on their way to new homes.
It has now been four years since Emmy’s first moments. The number of Emmy team members has grown from two to over thirty, more than a hundred orders are shipped every day, and the warehouse of over 80,000 products no longer fits in a living room.
Especially last year, 2018, was a time of significant development steps for Emmy. So, will you allow us to brag a little?
Three times more products
Emmy’s online store selection grew tremendously in 2018. Over the past year, we have paid special attention to the product handling process, and since last autumn, products arriving for sale have appeared in the online store at record speed. During 2018, our selection grew from 50,000 products for sale to over 85,000 products. Well over 150,000 products found a new home through Emmy, which is almost three times the amount compared to 2017.A handy and inspiring online store
The user experience and smoothness of the Emmy online store were improved in 2018. We made the online store easier to use and more efficient with updates to the appearance, more detailed product and material information, and improved seller info. Perhaps the most anticipated update was the launch of our improved filter tool, which now makes it even easier to find your favorite brands, suitable sizes, and color options.We are also especially proud of the visual renewal of the Emmy brand, which was carried out in early spring 2018. At that time, Emmy’s heart logo and brand signature colors, among others, got a new look.
In the autumn, we introduced Posti’s Helposti code, which now allows products to be sent from any Posti parcel machine. Buyers also received new options when Mash invoice and MobilePay were added to the payment methods.
All around Europe
In September 2018, we opened the Estonian online store as well as an international store operating in English. With the new sites, shopping is now possible all over Europe. We delivered our first orders within the EU already last April.In November, we partnered in Estonia with the Kaubamaja department stores and the Selver grocery store chain. The number of sales boxes has doubled during 2018, and there are now a total of 54 boxes: 40 in Finland and 14 in Estonia.
The number of partners also grew in Finland, as we formed partnerships with the hugely popular Finnish children’s clothing brands, Reima and Vimma.
With a smile and great drive
With our development, the number of Emmy team members has doubled compared to the beginning of the year. A positive attitude and great team spirit are an essential part of being an Emmy team member – and play a key role in the company’s growth and development.Currently, Emmy already employs over 30 professionals, from experienced veterans to students taking a gap year. It is a matter of honor for Emmy to be able to offer jobs to young people in its hometown.
And grateful for all the support
Although 2018 was still unprofitable, as is often the case for growth companies in their early stages, Emmy’s operations are constantly getting closer to profitability. We have developed our operations and efficiency in many ways. A big thank you goes to Emmy’s early-stage investors, who have believed in the company’s success and ensured the continuity of operations. Cookie greetings from an Emmy customer. However, the most important key to Emmy’s success is you, our wonderful customers – all of you buyers and sellers. Over the year, a large number of new users have joined Emmy, and we couldn’t be happier that more and more people are discovering second-hand products and the circular economy! We are extremely grateful for the abundant feedback we receive from our customers, and we hope to continue receiving it in the future. We do our best to develop our operations in the desired direction and to take your wishes into account.“It’s wonderful to be able to shop online in an ecological way, and even get high-quality branded products at a reasonable price! I will definitely order again and recommend it to my friends.”
“The bag I ordered matches the description and condition rating 100%. The service has been amazing and I want to thank you for the excellent customer service and really fast delivery.”