Department Store 2.0
Why Bulletin’s retail model is catching on
Digitally native brands are increasingly seeing the importance of a brick-and-mortar presence,
but many are not yet in a position to open a pop-up store. Multibrand retailer Bulletin—sometimes described as a “WeWork for retail”—is gaining momentum as a solution.
The retailer, which is lead by an exclusively female team and houses only female-led brands, is opening a third location in New York this summer. About 150 companies spanning categories including apparel, accessories, and living now sell in at least one location, paying a membership fee in addition to giving Bulletin 30% of all sales. In exchange, brands receive services beyond a physical presence in a high-traffic area: a subject matter expert on brand story, professional merchandising, access to sales and customer data, product and assortment consulting, marketing, and a dedicated event space. “We’re looking at it as department stores 2.0,” said Alana Branston, Bulletin’s co-founder and CEO.
Compared to other wholesale retailers, Bulletin has an advantage in that it owns no inventory, while promising the ability to drive traffic to digital brands’ sites and help them engage the community. The company reports a 500% increase in sales in the past year and, to date, has raised $80,000 (20% of profits) for Planned Parenthood.
Sources: Glossy (June 26, 2018) | Image: Laura Pittaccio