Viyet.com, a curated e-commerce destination for sourcing pre-owned furniture, lighting, accessories and art, has raised $1.5 million in seed funding from capital firms F Cubed and Metamorphic Ventures, as well as from a group of angel investors and senior leaders in retail and technology.
With the capital, Viyet plans to expand its consignment services to additional cities, improve tools for designers, make key hires, invest in operations, marketing and technology, and expand the site’s merchandise selection and designer client base. Viyet also intends to broaden its web and mobile tool offerings to make buying and selling with Viyet even more seamless.
From left: Viyet's CEO, Elizabeth Brown; VP of Marketing, Jennifer Koen; and Co-founder and Chief Curator, Louise Youngson-Klasfeld. Photographed by Genevieve Garruppo for Lonny magazine
“We will be creating specific tools for designers as well as developing richer platforms for design savvy shoppers to find inspiration and connect with interior designers,” said Viyet CEO Elizabeth Brown. “As a destination for high-end furniture consignment, we will continue to evolve the site experience to reflect the exceptional merchandise that we seek to consign and sell.”
The company launched in April 2013 to provide a full-service, white glove solution for buying and selling pre-owned designer furnishings online in a manner that is simple, trustworthy, and discreet. Viyet consigns inventory from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, and sells nationally as well as overseas. Similar websites include The High Boy, Chairish and LOFTY, which are all in the e-commerce consignment realm.
“There are very few ways to easily sell and buy high-end designer furniture and accessories online,” said Brown. “Our goal is to build an elevated design community and a trusted marketplace where the design savvy and design professionals meet. Designers now have a platform to showcase their portfolio while gaining quick access to high-quality items and selling their own inventory. Those that love design can buy fabulous pieces at prices 40 to 80% below retail prices and be inspired by our featured designers.”
Viyet.com
Currently, the merchandise sold via Viyet comes from top designers, brands and showrooms including Baker, Blu Dot, Campana Brothers, Campion Platt, Desiron, Frank Gehry, George Smith, Herman Miller, Hickory Chair, Alexa Hampton, Holly Hunt, John Robshaw, Jonathan Adler, Knoll, Ligne Roset, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Noguchi, Philippe Starck, Thom Filicia, and Vitra, among others.
"We are excited to add Viyet to the F Cubed portfolio,” said Anu Duggal, founder of F Cubed. “Elizabeth is exactly the type of entrepreneur we look to back—her strong track record in the start-up world combined with her impressive team, passion and drive in creating a marketplace solution for the luxury second-hand furniture market.”
“Our main focus is to build the core team that will allow Viyet to expand over the next 12 months,” added Brown. “We will bring on additional support for our operations, marketing, and technology teams as well as more curators to service the growing demand from consignors in the New York area as well as future locations.”
