ZipX

ZipX operates as an e-commerce and logistics platform focused on facilitating international shopping for consumers who face shipping restrictions from retailers in the US, UK, EU, and Japan. The company provides users with a physical mailing address in these regions, allowing them to purchase goods from online vendors and have the items forwarded to their international destination. This service primarily targets individuals who shop on the internet, order from catalogs, or subscribe to publications and prefer using a local address for their purchases. The business model centers on charging for international delivery, with costs calculated after a package is received and processed at the company's warehouse. Users are notified of the shipping cost via email and can pay through various methods, including credit cards and PayPal, before the shipment is exported.

The service is underpinned by a logistics backbone with over four decades of experience, inherited from its parent company, IBC. Although the ZipX product is a more recent introduction, it leverages IBC's established transportation and technology infrastructure, which has been maturing for over twenty years. Upon arrival at a ZipX facility, each package is barcoded and entered into a database, enabling customers to track their shipments from the origin point to the final destination through a customer portal. The company aims to process and export packages within 24 hours of receipt. Initially focused on serving expats in Hong Kong who wanted more affordable access to products from their home countries, the company has since expanded its reach. The platform also offers features like transparent shipping prices, a 3-9 day transit time, and customer service support.

Founded by James Steinberg, the Hong Kong-based entity participated in the Y Combinator Winter 2017 batch and has since been marked as acquired. It has received accelerator funding, including a $120K round in March 2017. The company's vision is to make international commerce seamless, driven by the founders' personal experiences with the high cost and limited availability of international goods. Keywords: international shopping, package forwarding, cross-border e-commerce, US mailing address, UK mailing address, EU mailing address, global shipping, personal shopping, freight forwarding, logistics solutions, e-commerce platform, international delivery, shop and ship, parcel forwarding, consumer logistics, Hong Kong startup, Y Combinator alumni, online retail access, import services, shipping restrictions