The 120-year-old non-profit organisation has gone online as GoodwillFinds.com, in an attempt to modernise the organisation and also keep up with the consumers’ growing inclination towards online shopping.
The move to e-commerce also helps Goodwill to compete with other resale retailers like The RealReal, Poshmark, and ThredUp.
The website will offer thousands of products from different categories such as apparel, kidswear, books, home decor, collector’s items, etc.
The organisation also plans to list more than a quarter million second-hand, unique luxury items by the beginning of 2024. Brands like Gucci, Prada, and Burberry can already be seen on the platform.
Traditionally, Goodwill has used its net profit to help thousands and thousands of people’s careers to flourish and will continue to do the same through its website.
The organisation operates in more than 3300 stores across Canada and USA and last year made more than $5.4 billion in donated goods retail revenue.
Goodwill’s Move from Brick-and-mortar to Omnichannel
Goodwill is one of the pioneers when it comes to contributing towards a more circular economy. They have been able to divert three billion pounds of products from landfills last year.
The organisation, however, has, before the launch of its website, made 90 percent of its sales through its brick-and-mortar stores and online retailers like Amazon and eBay.
This is the very first time the non-profit organisation is transitioning to a complete omnichannel system of sales which it believes will help in awareness of the resale market.
The transition was made after careful assessment and analysis by board members and Goodwill members.
“GoodwillFinds furthers the organisation’s mission through a modern online shopping experience, backed by a century-old philosophy,” CEO of Goodwill Industries, Steve Preston, commented.
Matthew A. Kaness has been appointed the CEO of GoodwillFinds.com. He is a retail veteran and digital commerce entrepreneur with experience from big industry names like Walmart eCommerce, and Urban Outfitters Inc. to name a few.
Kansas said of the online transition, “I feel this is a revolution that’s happening in retail right now where secondhand has finally crossed over and is seen as a force for good and not just a good deal — and we’re the sleeping giant that has woken up and is taking our rightful place.”
