Vinted

Vinted, a second-hand marketplace with Lithuanian origins

Vinted is a platform for buying and selling second-hand items that was founded in Lithuania in 2008. As the company itself tells it, its founder, Milda Mitkute, was moving house and had more clothes than she could take with her; Justas Janauskas helped her by creating a website to give those garments away to friends. The initiative quickly caught the media's attention and gave rise to Vinted.

The company presents itself as a community open to anyone who believes that quality items should last. Its activity revolves around selling and buying clothing, footwear and accessories, although the platform has expanded its catalogue to other categories.

Beyond clothing: categories and products

Vinted's catalogue includes sections for women, men, designer, kids, home, electronics, books & media, hobbies & collectables, and sports. Among the most popular categories shown on the website are dresses, tops & t-shirts, outerwear, jumpers & sweaters, activewear and trousers & leggings, for both women and men.

The platform also highlights fast-moving brands such as Nike, Zara, adidas, Shein, Primark, Ralph Lauren, River Island, Next, The North Face and Dunnes Stores. Items listed in the catalogue include examples of garments and products from brands such as adidas, New Era, Jean Paul Gaultier, Armedangels, Uniqlo, Gymshark, Stradivarius, Kiabi and Vintage Dressing, among others, with varying prices and conditions.

How it works and business model

Vinted operates as a marketplace where users list and sell their own items. The company states that sales are made at the price set by the seller and with 0% selling fees. The platform offers mobile apps and a website for managing transactions, and its model relies on a community of millions of members who exchange second-hand items every day.

The company says that every day it helps its members trade millions of second-hand items, and that its activity goes beyond clothing to cover everything from kids' items to luxury handbags.

Structure, team and investors

Vinted is headquartered in Lithuania and has offices in several European countries. According to corporate information, more than 2,000 people work from its headquarters and European offices. The company is led by its CEO, Thomas Plantenga, and Adam Jay holds the position of CEO Marketplace. The cofounders are Milda Mitkute and Justas Janauskas.

Vinted's mission is backed by venture capital firms from both sides of the Atlantic, including Accel, Burda Principal Investments, EQT Growth, Insight Partners, Lightspeed Venture Partners and Sprints.

Sustainability and positioning

The company maintains that second-hand is better than new for the climate, for your wardrobe and for your wallet, and that its goal is to make it the first choice for everyone. Vinted publishes an impact report to support this claim and devotes sections of its website to sustainability, accessibility and press.