Gilt Groupe
Encyclopedia
Gilt Groupe is a shopping website based in the United states, offering its members merchandise, clothing, home decor, delicatessen food, travel and activities. Gilt Groupe was founded in 2007 and has 3.5 million members. In 2009, FastCompany called it the "darling of luxury-obsessed bargain hunters."
In August 2011, Gilt Groupe announced the launch of its standalone luxury retail site for men, PARK & BOND, which also offers editorial content.
, early eBay executive Alexis Maybank and Louis Vuitton and Bulgari merchandising executive Alexandra Wilkis Wilson. The company launched women's clothing and accessories in November 2007, men's in April 2008, Gilt Groupe Japan in February 2009, Gilt Fuse in August 2009, a travel site named Jetsetter in September 2009, Gilt City in April 2010 and Gilt Home in May 2010. Gilt Groupe is based in New York, N.Y. with warehouses in Brooklyn, N.Y., Las Vegas, N.V., and Louisville, Ky. Gilt Groupe's first acquisition was Bergine
in 2010, followed by Decorati and Buy With Me in 2011.
Recently, Gilt has experimented with sales model different than its original flash sales method. On April 13, 2010, Gilt Groupe offered summer Helmut Lang
collection for non-discounted full price. In addition, unlike flash sales of 36 to 48 hours, Helmut Lang
products were offered for one week. However, if a customer spent at least $250, purchases came with an exclusive Helmut Lang tank and a $50 credit toward a future Gilt purchase.
Kevin P. Ryan
announced Gilt Groupe's first company acquisition of local deals site Bergine
on November 2, 2010.
Gilt Groupe has raised a total of $174 million to date, its investors include Matrix Partners
and General Atlantic
. In a February 2011 interview, Gilt Groupe CEO Kevin P. Ryan
said the company was considering a public offering in 2012.
On August 8, 2011, Gilt Groupe announced the launch of Park and Bond. A standalone website, Park and Bond offers luxury clothing brands and style advice to help men make better style choices.
On August 22, 2011, Gilt Groupe started letting customers shop directly through Facebook. Consumers on Facebook will also have access to shop select offers before the sales launch on the Gilt.com e-commerce site.
version of an invitation-only travel sales site called Jetsetter on September 30, 2009, Gilt Groupe officially launched Jetsetter on April 8, 2010. Jetsetter destinations include more than 200 properties in over 20 countries. Jetsetter is expected to become a rival of airbnb
.
and Living Social. Curators seek out luxurious events, services and experiences available in major cities and offer discounts and deals to Gilt Group members. Currently, Gilt City is available in New York
, Boston
, Los Angeles
, San Francisco, Seattle, Miami, Chicago
, and Washington, D.C.
.
Gilt City launched on April 23, 2010, only being available in New York City. On September 14, 2010, Gilt Group expanded Gilt City to Boston
, Chicago
and Miami. In addition, Gilt Groupe Japan launched Gilt City Japan.
In October 2010, Gilt Groupe acquired Bergine
, a leading luxury deal company with operations in San Francisco, Napa Valley and Los Angeles. Founded by husband and wife team Ian Picache and Patricia Calfee, Bergine
launched in San Francisco in March 2010.
In August 2011 East Hampton (village), New York
sought an injunction against the activities in “Hamptons House." The village noted that tickets were being sold for a business to be operated out of a house zoned for residential use only. The Gilt Groupe rented the house. Tickets for events ranged from $25 to $1,500. Gilt said it would not hold events at the house but that it would have the events elsewhere. Gilt moved the events to a house in Scuttlehill Road in Bridgehampton, New York
where it held a dinner with chef Scott Conant
($125) and yoga with Russell Simmons
($75).
on the Apple App Store. Also, on April 3, 2010, Gilt Groupe announced the launch of its Gilt App for iPad
, becoming one of the first retailers to develop an iPad
application. In order to promote Gilt App for iPad
, Gilt Groupe granted instant Gilt Groupe membership to all iPad
owners who download the app and also gave a $10 credit to the first 10,000 iPad owners who register for new membership through the app. Access is also available via mobile web for other smartphone and tablet devices.
In August 2011, Gilt Groupe announced the launch of its standalone luxury retail site for men, PARK & BOND, which also offers editorial content.
History
The company was launched in 2007 by Doubleclick co-founder Kevin P. RyanKevin P. Ryan
Kevin P. Ryan is an Internet executive and entrepreneur in New York City's Silicon Alley. He serves as the Founder and CEO of Gilt Groupe and prior to November 2010, he was the company's Executive Chairman....
, early eBay executive Alexis Maybank and Louis Vuitton and Bulgari merchandising executive Alexandra Wilkis Wilson. The company launched women's clothing and accessories in November 2007, men's in April 2008, Gilt Groupe Japan in February 2009, Gilt Fuse in August 2009, a travel site named Jetsetter in September 2009, Gilt City in April 2010 and Gilt Home in May 2010. Gilt Groupe is based in New York, N.Y. with warehouses in Brooklyn, N.Y., Las Vegas, N.V., and Louisville, Ky. Gilt Groupe's first acquisition was Bergine
Bergine
Bergine launched in March 2010 as the first luxury deal-of-the-day site in the United States. Co-founded by husband/wife team Ian Picache and Patricia Calfee, Bergine provided daily "flash-sale" offers to restaurants, spas and boutiques at up to 70% off retail prices...
in 2010, followed by Decorati and Buy With Me in 2011.
Overview
Gilt Groupe visitors must be members in order to view sales. Initially, membership was by invitation only. However, Gilt Groupe no longer uses this policy, and non-members can now sign up directly on gilt.com without having been invited. New sales typically start at Noon EST, last 36–48 hours, and feature merchandise from a single brand or small groups of brands at prices 50%-70% off of manufacturer's suggested retail prices. An email announcing the start of each day's sales is sent to all members shortly before the sale starts, and orders are taken on a first come, first-served basis. As orders are received, they are shipped directly from warehouses in either Brooklyn, N.Y., Andover, Mass., or Louisville, Ky.Recently, Gilt has experimented with sales model different than its original flash sales method. On April 13, 2010, Gilt Groupe offered summer Helmut Lang
Helmut Lang
Helmut Lang may refer to:* Helmut Lang , Austrian-born fashion designer and artist* Helmut Lang , brand created by Helmut Lang in 1986...
collection for non-discounted full price. In addition, unlike flash sales of 36 to 48 hours, Helmut Lang
Helmut Lang
Helmut Lang may refer to:* Helmut Lang , Austrian-born fashion designer and artist* Helmut Lang , brand created by Helmut Lang in 1986...
products were offered for one week. However, if a customer spent at least $250, purchases came with an exclusive Helmut Lang tank and a $50 credit toward a future Gilt purchase.
Kevin P. Ryan
Kevin P. Ryan
Kevin P. Ryan is an Internet executive and entrepreneur in New York City's Silicon Alley. He serves as the Founder and CEO of Gilt Groupe and prior to November 2010, he was the company's Executive Chairman....
announced Gilt Groupe's first company acquisition of local deals site Bergine
Bergine
Bergine launched in March 2010 as the first luxury deal-of-the-day site in the United States. Co-founded by husband/wife team Ian Picache and Patricia Calfee, Bergine provided daily "flash-sale" offers to restaurants, spas and boutiques at up to 70% off retail prices...
on November 2, 2010.
Gilt Groupe has raised a total of $174 million to date, its investors include Matrix Partners
Matrix Partners
Matrix Partners is a US based private equity investment firm focusing on venture capital investments. The firm invests in seed and early stage companies in the United States and India, particularly in the software, communications, semiconductors, data storage, Internet or wireless sectors.The firm...
and General Atlantic
General Atlantic
General Atlantic is a private equity investment firm. The firm invests through growth capital injections, control buyouts, industry consolidations, build-ups, recapitalizations, and PIPEs...
. In a February 2011 interview, Gilt Groupe CEO Kevin P. Ryan
Kevin P. Ryan
Kevin P. Ryan is an Internet executive and entrepreneur in New York City's Silicon Alley. He serves as the Founder and CEO of Gilt Groupe and prior to November 2010, he was the company's Executive Chairman....
said the company was considering a public offering in 2012.
On August 8, 2011, Gilt Groupe announced the launch of Park and Bond. A standalone website, Park and Bond offers luxury clothing brands and style advice to help men make better style choices.
On August 22, 2011, Gilt Groupe started letting customers shop directly through Facebook. Consumers on Facebook will also have access to shop select offers before the sales launch on the Gilt.com e-commerce site.
Jetsetter
After debuting a BetaBeta
Beta is the second letter of the Greek alphabet. Beta or BETA may also refer to:-Biology:*Beta , a genus of flowering plants, mostly referred to as beets*Beta, a rank in a community of social animals...
version of an invitation-only travel sales site called Jetsetter on September 30, 2009, Gilt Groupe officially launched Jetsetter on April 8, 2010. Jetsetter destinations include more than 200 properties in over 20 countries. Jetsetter is expected to become a rival of airbnb
Airbnb
Airbnb is an online service that matches people seeking vacation rentals and other short-term accommodations with those with rooms to rent, generally private parties that are not professional hoteliers. The site was founded in August 2008 by Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia. In July 2011, the company...
.
Gilt City
Gilt City is a location-based deal service similar to GrouponGroupon
Groupon is a deal-of-the-day website that features discounted gift certificates usable at local or national companies. Groupon was launched in November 2008, the first market for Groupon was Chicago, followed soon thereafter by Boston, New York City, and Toronto...
and Living Social. Curators seek out luxurious events, services and experiences available in major cities and offer discounts and deals to Gilt Group members. Currently, Gilt City is available in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, San Francisco, Seattle, Miami, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, and Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
.
Gilt City launched on April 23, 2010, only being available in New York City. On September 14, 2010, Gilt Group expanded Gilt City to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and Miami. In addition, Gilt Groupe Japan launched Gilt City Japan.
In October 2010, Gilt Groupe acquired Bergine
Bergine
Bergine launched in March 2010 as the first luxury deal-of-the-day site in the United States. Co-founded by husband/wife team Ian Picache and Patricia Calfee, Bergine provided daily "flash-sale" offers to restaurants, spas and boutiques at up to 70% off retail prices...
, a leading luxury deal company with operations in San Francisco, Napa Valley and Los Angeles. Founded by husband and wife team Ian Picache and Patricia Calfee, Bergine
Bergine
Bergine launched in March 2010 as the first luxury deal-of-the-day site in the United States. Co-founded by husband/wife team Ian Picache and Patricia Calfee, Bergine provided daily "flash-sale" offers to restaurants, spas and boutiques at up to 70% off retail prices...
launched in San Francisco in March 2010.
In August 2011 East Hampton (village), New York
East Hampton (village), New York
The Village of East Hampton is a village in Town of East Hampton, New York. It is located in Suffolk County, on the South Fork of eastern Long Island...
sought an injunction against the activities in “Hamptons House." The village noted that tickets were being sold for a business to be operated out of a house zoned for residential use only. The Gilt Groupe rented the house. Tickets for events ranged from $25 to $1,500. Gilt said it would not hold events at the house but that it would have the events elsewhere. Gilt moved the events to a house in Scuttlehill Road in Bridgehampton, New York
Bridgehampton, New York
Bridgehampton is a hamlet in the South Fork of Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 1,381 at the 2000 census....
where it held a dinner with chef Scott Conant
Scott Conant
Scott Conant is an American chef, restaurateur, food personality, and cookbook author.-Personal history:Conant was born in Waterbury, Connecticut. Scott is of Italian descent on his mother's side. He began cooking at a young age, taking cooking classes at the local community college at age 11...
($125) and yoga with Russell Simmons
Russell Simmons
-External links:** * * * * * * from the US Holocaust Memorial Museum* *...
($75).
Gilt Taste
Gilt Taste is a public, gourmet food site which is both an e-commerce shop which gives direct access to artisan products and ingredients as well as an interactive magazine of original recipes and stories from chefs and food experts. Gilt Taste launched on May 18, 2011.Mobile applications
Gilt Groupe has been quick to adopt mobile application to provide users with abilities to shop through mobile devices. On September 29, 2009, Gilt Groupe announced the introduction of the Gilt on the Go App for iPhoneIPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
on the Apple App Store. Also, on April 3, 2010, Gilt Groupe announced the launch of its Gilt App for iPad
IPad
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
, becoming one of the first retailers to develop an iPad
IPad
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
application. In order to promote Gilt App for iPad
IPad
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
, Gilt Groupe granted instant Gilt Groupe membership to all iPad
IPad
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
owners who download the app and also gave a $10 credit to the first 10,000 iPad owners who register for new membership through the app. Access is also available via mobile web for other smartphone and tablet devices.