34. Goodbyes
Monique Thomas and Olivia Mangan established Goodbyes as a trusted brand that would make secondhand shopping more desirable than buying new. See their Smart50 rank.
Revenue: $8.8 million
Growth: 44%
Founders: Monique Thomas, Olivia Mangan
Head office: Carlton North, VIC
Year founded: 2015
Employees: 60
Industry: Retail
Website: goodbyes.com.au
How Goodbyes started
Secondhand fashion is hotter than ever, but Goodbyes co-founders Monique Thomas and Olivia Mangan saw there was a gap in the market. There were no national brick-and-mortar stores dedicated to fashion resale services. Australia was ready for one, and Thomas and Mangan established Goodbyes as a trusted brand that would make secondhand shopping more desirable than buying new. Founded in 2015, the company now has locations in Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra – each store providing consistent quality while reflecting its local community.
Growth
When Goodbyes was launched, “pre-loved” clothing had a stigma among shoppers, and the company had to work to give this mindset a makeover. Now the global resale market is expected to grow 6.4 times faster than the retail clothing sector. It’s an exciting time to be in this space, say Thomas and Mangan, who are capitalising by continuing the company’s national expansion, with a major focus on a Sydney launch.
Where to next
Finding the right location for a brick-and-mortar operation is tough given the competitive state of the commercial property market. While Goodbyes keeps its eyes peeled for the prime spot, the company is investing in technology to diversify its service offering, improve operational efficiency, and enhance the seller experience. Building strategic partnerships and reviewing investment options to ensure Goodbyes reaches its full potential is also an important move.
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