On-line trend platform Secret Sales unlocks $10m funding spherical

Secret Sales, a reduction platform for premium clothes and wonder manufacturers, has clinched a $10m funding spherical to speed up its growth into Europe.

Sky News understands that the corporate, which was purchased by retail entrepreneurs Chris Griffin and Matt Purt three years in the past, will announce this week that it has secured the extra capital from a syndicate of main buyers.

Secret Sales, which helps upmarket manufacturers equivalent to Dolce & Gabbana, Kurt Geiger, Puma and Versace promote surplus inventory whereas permitting them to retain management of the merchandise’ branding and pricing, says it has amassed a listing of 25m objects with a mixed worth of £3 billion – a year-on-year enhance of 125%.

The firm is chaired by Nick Beighton, the previous boss of ASOS who now runs Matchesfashion.

Its new funding has been dedicated by the identical backers which led Secret Sales’ earlier funding spherical in June 2021.

They embrace Perwyn, the European non-public fairness investor, and Belerion Capital, an e-commerce investor which backed ASOS, The Hut Group and Boohoo.

Big Ideas Group, a growth-stage investor, additionally participated.

Operating within the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands, it has drawn up plans to increase to a different 12 worldwide markets.

Chris Griffins, Secret Sales’ chief govt, mentioned: “With the present financial local weather nonetheless unsure, and the funding market notably difficult to foretell, we’re extraordinarily happy with our success on this Series B funding.

“The confidence of our existing investors is testament to the incredible results we have achieved during this past year, showing that there is significant reason and opportunity to invest in the Secret Sales business model worldwide.

“The ongoing demand from manufacturers and retailers in search of an upmarket, worthwhile, and sustainable option to promote non-full value stock has accelerated and we’re quick changing into the one actual 360-degree answer.”

Iain McDonald, founder of Belerion Capital Group, and a non-executive director at Boohoo and The Hut Group, said the latest funding round “will permit an accelerated worldwide rollout”.

Based within the UK, Secret Sales mentioned 40 million distinctive customers visited its platform final yr, and that it has 9 million registered account-holders.