Italic (company)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | E-commerce, Retail |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Founder | Jeremy Cai |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Men's and women's clothing, footwear, bags, accessories, fitness equipment, household items |
| Website | italic |
Italic operates as an online marketplace specializing in high-end products, featuring men's and women's clothing, footwear, bags, accessories, fitness equipment, and household items.
History
Jeremy Cai, whose family has a background in manufacturing, established Italic in 2018. The company went live with its website on November 16, 2018. Prior to the launch, Italic had amassed a waiting list of 100,000 potential customers and secured $13 million in funding from investors such as Comcast Ventures, Index Ventures, and Ludlow Ventures.
Membership
At its inception, Italic implemented a membership model requiring a $10 monthly fee for access to its luxury offerings, with the first year’s fee waived. This approach was discontinued in January 2019 but later revived in May 2020 as an exclusive membership program priced at $100 annually. Over time, the product selection broadened to incorporate categories like home goods, fitness items, travel accessories, and pet products.
Business model
Italic collaborates with manufacturing partners to design products sold exclusively through its platform without branded labels. These luxury goods are offered directly to customers at cost price via the company’s website. Revenue is primarily derived from membership fees, while manufacturers benefit from access to real-time data on inventory levels and sales performance.