Kaiyo is an online marketplace that connects buyers and sellers of secondhand furniture and home decor items. Launched in 2015, the company has quickly gained popularity as a platform for finding unique and affordable pieces for your home.
“At Kaiyo, our mission is to make great design accessible to everyone. Furniture is one of the largest investments consumers make, yet historically, re-selling has posed a significant challenge, making it a major contributor to landfill waste,” said Alpay Koralturk, founder and CEO of Kaiyo.
One of the standout features of Kaiyo is its commitment to sustainability. The company recognizes that furniture and home decor items are often discarded or left unused and aims to give these items a new life through the marketplace. By promoting the buying and selling of pre-owned items, Kaiyo is helping to reduce waste and decrease the demand for new, resource-intensive products.
Whether you’re looking for a statement piece or need to fill a small space, you’ll likely find something that fits your style and budget on Kaiyo. But sustainability isn’t the only reason to shop on Kaiyo. The marketplace also offers a wide selection of items, from vintage and antique pieces to modern and contemporary designs.
The shopping experience on Kaiyo is also user-friendly and streamlined. The site is easy to navigate, with clear categories and search filters that allow you to find exactly what you’re looking. Plus, all items are professionally photographed and described, so you can get a good sense of what you’re buying before you make a purchase.
However, one of the best things about Kaiyo is the community aspect of the marketplace. Buyers and sellers can interact and get to know each other through the platform, creating a sense of connection and trust. This is especially helpful if you’re buying something sight unseen, as you can ask the seller questions and get a sense of their credibility before committing to a purchase.
Kaiyo’s business growth
Kaiyo’s mission to enable easy access to high-quality, pre-owned furniture from well-known brands while also helping to reduce waste has increased strong revenue growth and customer satisfaction. It is now expanding to more markets in the United States with the 2nd round of funding of $35 million. In addition to offering convenient delivery, Kaiyo is also committed to sustainability, as furniture is a major contributor to waste in landfills. The company has helped keep nearly three million pounds of furniture out of landfills since it was founded. Edison Partners, a growth equity investor, has praised Kaiyo for creating a frictionless experience for sellers and buyers and reimagining how people purchase furniture.
Want to sell on Kaiyo?
Kaiyo has been operating throughout the U.S. since 2014 and has expanded its service area to include the Los Angeles area. Previously, it only accepted products from sellers in East Coast markets, but new warehouses in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore have allowed it to expand its network of sellers and customer base.
To sell furniture through Kaiyo, individuals in the company’s service area must undergo a series of approval steps. After acceptance, Kaiyo will collect the item from the seller at no cost, assess its quality, clean it, take photos, package it, and store it in their warehouse. Sellers of used furniture also can use the company’s instant offer feature, which allows them to receive a flat fee as soon as Kaiyo picks up and accepts their item, rather than waiting for it to be sold.
Consumers can purchase items from Kaiyo across the U.S., but those outside of the company’s white-glove service area will incur higher delivery fees through third-party carriers, which will be calculated at checkout. There is also a $350 minimum order value for third-party shipping. Customers within Kaiyo’s service area have more affordable delivery options starting at $19 and can also pick up online orders from Kaiyo’s 78,418 square-foot warehouse in Chino, California.
It’s great to see that Kaiyo is working to reduce waste and promote sustainability. By providing a platform for buying and selling used or refurbished items, Kaiyo is helping to extend the life of products and keep them out of landfills. By giving gently used or refurbished items a second life, Kaiyo is helping to conserve resources and reduce the environmental impact of consumerism. It’s important to support initiatives like this and continue to find ways to reduce waste and live more sustainably.