Vinted — status

Vinted is an online marketplace that has become a global leader in the second-hand fashion market, with a mission to make "second-hand the first choice." Its core business model is a peer-to-peer platform that allows users to easily buy, sell, and swap a wide range of pre-owned items, with a primary focus on clothing, shoes, and accessories. A key differentiator for Vinted is its zero-commission policy for sellers. This means that when an item is sold, the seller keeps 100% of the sale price, which significantly lowers the barrier to entry and encourages a massive, diverse inventory. Vinted's revenue is primarily generated by a "Buyer Protection Fee" that is charged to the buyer on every transaction. This fee includes a fixed amount and a variable percentage of the item's price and is used to cover secure payment processing, fraud prevention, and dispute resolution. In addition to this, Vinted offers optional paid services for sellers, such as "Item Bump" and "Wardrobe Spotlight," which increase the visibility of their listings for a fee. The company's history began in 2008 in Lithuania, when co-founder Milda Mitkutė needed a way to sell her surplus clothes. This simple idea grew into a thriving international business, and in 2019, Vinted became Lithuania's first "unicorn" company, reaching a valuation of over $1 billion. The platform's success is also attributed to its focus on sustainability and its user-friendly interface. It provides a simple, seamless process for listing items, with built-in shipping labels that streamline the logistics for both buyers and sellers. This has made it a strong competitor to other platforms like Depop and Poshmark, particularly in the European market.