Max Retail

Max Retail operates a retail technology platform and marketplace that lets independent retailers, multi-location retailers and brands sell excess and past-season inventory without deep in-store markdowns. Sellers list items by connecting a point-of-sale or e-commerce system, uploading an on-hand inventory report, or filling in a template; Max Retail then enhances the listings with imagery, descriptions and attributes and distributes them simultaneously across a network of online marketplaces and off-price channels. Merchandise stays physically in the seller's store until it sells, at which point the retailer approves the order, prints a prepaid label and ships within two days. Payouts are released through Stripe when the shipping label scans.

The company handles channel management and all pre- and post-sale customer service on the seller's behalf, states that sales are final with no returns or buyer disputes, and keeps the seller's store name off marketplace listings to preserve anonymity. It targets retailers carrying recognizable designer and contemporary brands in apparel, footwear, accessories, handbags, jewelry, beauty and eyewear, with a stated minimum wholesale price of $30 per item and no minimum listing quantity. Named sales channels include Snagged & Bagged, Shop Simon, Poshmark, eBay, Beyond Style, Steals.com and The Clymb. A liquidation division works with domestic and international off-price retail partners.

Founding story

Co-founder and CEO Melodie van der Baan worked in real estate before losing much of her business in the 2008 housing crash, then became a travelling sales rep selling to independent boutiques from a mobile showroom and later opened her own store in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Recurring unsold, past-season inventory and reliance on markdowns prompted her to build the platform. Co-founder Morgan Bodstrom co-owned the retail shop with van der Baan and previously worked in executive recruiting in New York City focused on wholesale apparel, footwear and accessories; co-founder Damon Ciarelli is the engineer who built the underlying technology.

Business model

Two-sided marketplace model in which Max Retail aggregates unsold inventory held by independent retailers and brands and distributes it across third-party online sales channels, without taking possession of inventory or operating warehouses. Retailers keep stock in store and fulfill orders directly with prepaid labels supplied by the platform.

Commission-based: a 15% transaction fee charged only when an item sells, with standard shipping rates applied. The company states there are no onboarding, membership, listing, credit card processing or sales tax fees.

Traction

The company reports more than 4,000 retailer and brand sellers, over $50 million paid out to sellers cumulatively, and reach to more than 400 million online shoppers. At the time of the May 2024 Series A it reported 2,000+ sellers, 4x year-over-year GMV growth, a 3x increase in seller payouts over the prior twelve months, and 89% of active sellers selling inventory in every month of Q1. Individual seller testimonials on the site cite payouts ranging from about $46,000 to $226,000.

Latest developments

The company reports surpassing 4,000 retailer and brand sellers and more than $50 million in cumulative payouts, and lists distribution channels including Snagged & Bagged, Shop Simon, Poshmark, eBay, Beyond Style, Steals.com and The Clymb. It has added a liquidation division led by a VP of business development serving domestic and international off-price retail partners.