TRACE is a presale marketplace that lets shoppers list items they intend to buy on partner retail sites before checkout. Other users place bids to purchase or rent the item after the original buyer has worn it, and each bid reduces the buyer’s net cost; the buyer then purchases at the agreed price, wears the item, and ships it to the winning bidder. The platform earns revenue from a buyer protection fee on purchases and a percentage fee on rental transactions, while listing is free for sellers.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Luxury shoppers often face high upfront costs and uncertainty about the true net price of high‑end apparel, while traditional resale channels involve lengthy holding periods and price erosion. Additionally, there is limited ability to monetize a purchased item after a single wear, leading to underutilized inventory and wasted spending.
Solution
TRACE provides a presale marketplace that integrates directly into the checkout flow of over 200 premium retailers via a Chrome extension. Shoppers can list an item they intend to buy before completing checkout, triggering a real‑time bidding process where other users submit purchase or rental offers for the item’s second wear. Each accepted bid reduces the original buyer’s net outlay, effectively lowering the effective purchase price before any payment is made. The platform handles payment processing, buyer‑protection guarantees, and generates prepaid shipping labels, ensuring secure and frictionless transfers. Rental transactions are supported with a standard 7‑day wear period and a separate platform fee. All payouts are routed through Stripe within three business days, and the service charges fees only to the buyer or renter, keeping listing free for sellers.
Target Audience
The primary users are affluent fashion consumers and style‑savvy shoppers who purchase high‑end apparel and seek to reduce upfront spend or monetize items after a single wear. Secondary users include peer groups and boutique retailers looking to facilitate shared purchases and short‑term rentals within the luxury segment.
Features
- One‑click “List It” Chrome extension that auto‑captures product data on 200+ luxury e‑commerce sites (e.g., Net‑a‑Porter, Nordstrom, SSENSE).
- Real‑time bidding engine that allows purchase or rental offers, with each bid instantly adjusting the buyer’s projected net cost.
- Integrated buyer‑protection fee (10% + $3) covering condition verification, dispute resolution, and prepaid return shipping.
- Rental workflow with 7‑day wear window, 15% platform fee on rental income, and automated label generation for return logistics.
- Stripe‑based payout system delivering funds to sellers within three business days, with bank‑level security and PCI compliance.
- Public feed and group‑shopping feature that surfaces active listings and enables friends to split costs or share styles.
- GDPR‑compliant data handling that collects only necessary transaction information and never sells user data.