Vendora

Vendora operates as a horizontal online classifieds marketplace headquartered in Athens, Greece, facilitating the buying and selling of a wide array of new and used goods. The company was founded in 2017 by Robin Schuil, who brought significant experience from the online marketplace sector.

The founder's journey is central to Vendora's strategy. Robin Schuil was the co-founder of Marktplaats.nl, a Dutch classifieds platform that was acquired by eBay in 2004. Following the acquisition, Schuil remained with Marktplaats for 12 years, gaining experience as Head of Innovation. His relocation to Athens, spurred by his involvement as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Orange Grove through an invitation from the Dutch Embassy, led to the establishment of Vendora.gr. Schuil identified an opportunity in the Greek market to create a leading classifieds site and foster the growth of e-commerce in the country.

The platform serves both individuals and businesses, allowing them to trade items across numerous categories, from electronics and apparel to furniture and vehicles. Vendora's business model is rooted in the principles of a circular economy, aiming to reduce waste by promoting the reuse of products. Revenue is generated through a commission taken upon the successful withdrawal of funds by a seller. This fee supports platform operations, including marketing, secure payment processing, and customer service. To encourage on-platform activity, users can use their wallet balance for purchases without incurring charges, which helps recycle money within the local economy.

A key feature of Vendora's service is its emphasis on transaction security. The platform acts as a trusted intermediary, holding payments in escrow and releasing them only when both buyer and seller are satisfied. This "Buy via Vendora" service includes free buyer protection, guaranteeing a refund if the item is not received as described. The company also partners with sustainable logistics providers like BoxNow to offer dependable and environmentally conscious shipping options. Since its inception, Vendora has secured multiple rounds of funding from investors including No Such Ventures, Great Stuff Ventures, and Bucephalus. These investments have fueled its expansion, including a successful launch in Cyprus in April 2023.

Keywords: online marketplace, classified ads, secondhand goods, consumer-to-consumer, e-commerce Greece, circular economy, peer-to-peer marketplace, used products, Vendora.gr, Robin Schuil, buy and sell online, Greek startups, Athens tech, online trading platform, secure transactions, buyer protection, pre-owned items, horizontal marketplace, sustainable shopping, digital classifieds