Charity Oxfam GB has announced it is using Ireland-based resale platform Thriftify to speed up its online product listings.
A trial of the technology helped increase Oxfam’s average daily online listings per lister by 292%, lifted average sale price by 24% month-on-month, and cut pick-and-pack time per order by 51%, according to the charity.
Thriftify uses AI to turn photographs of donated items into full marketplace-ready listings, then publishes them across multiple channels at once. Oxfam said during the trial that listing data per item grew up to 1,200%, with full size grids, fabric composition, fit, rise, season and all eBay-item specifics filled in automatically and accurately which are the signals eBay’s search algorithm rewards, helping items sell faster and at premium prices.
Julie Tyrrell, head of e-commerce & retail sustainability at Oxfam GB, who last month oversaw the launch of Oxfam’s first online clothing rental platform, said: “Every pound we generate from donated goods is a pound we can put towards our work fighting poverty.
“Thriftify’s platform is enabling us to list more items, sell them at a higher average sale price and a faster sell-through rate. When we combine the transformative impact of Thriftify’s technology on our sales with their experience and expertise in resale, it gives us the confidence that together we can drive e-commerce success; making as many pounds as possible to support our mission.”
Rónán Ó Dálaigh, CEO of Thriftify, commented: “Oxfam GB is the original charity retailer and is one of the UK’s largest resale businesses.
“Being chosen as their partner for their next stage of growth and AI-adoption is the strongest possible validation of our solution. While our mission is simple; to make listing fast and accurate, in practice we enhance every touchpoint of a pre-loved item’s journey, from the picking floor to the customer’s front door.”
The organisations are confident the partnership has much more potential to further drive commercial success online.
Online resale is the fastest-growing part of the wider charity retail sector that – according to the Charity Retail Association – generates more than £387 million in profit a year in the UK.
Thriftify is growing in this market, and now serves charity retailers and resale operators across the UK, Europe, Middle East and Australia.
[image credit: FIONA FINCHETT AND OXFAM]
