Nigeria - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Clozetsales is an online marketplace that provides a platform for decluttering, buying and selling pre-loved clothing. This extends the lifespan of garments and reduces the demand for new clothing production, which has a significant environmental impact.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Clozetsales is a Nigerian Circular Fashion Startup tackling fast fashion's environmental impact. We run an online marketplace for buying and selling pre-loved clothing, extending garment life and reducing textile waste. This empowers women to declutter and earn money, while offering others affordable, stylish fashion. We promote conscious consumption and educate users on the environmental benefits of pre-loved clothing. As part of our mission to extend life-cycle of existing items, we provide in-house upcycling services to create unique pieces from pre-loved items, further minimizing waste. Clozetsales is a purpose-driven business promoting sustainability, empowering women, and building a thriving pre-loved fashion community in Nigeria .

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

The Nigerian fashion scene thrives on fast fashion, but it comes at a heavy cost. Fast fashion production pollutes the environment with water waste, greenhouse gasses, and textile overflow in landfills. Clozetsales tackles this by offering a solution for both environmental and economic concerns. We built a platform for buying and selling pre-loved clothing, extending garment life and diverting textiles from landfills. This empowers women to declutter their wardrobes and earn money for pre-loved items, while offering others stylish and affordable fashion choices. By promoting pre-loved clothing, we foster a community around conscious consumption and educate users on the environmental benefits of sustainable fashion choices.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

We actively fight the prevailing issues of fast fashion and it's environmental impact by promoting pre-loved clothing. This extends garment lifespans, reduces textile waste in landfills, and lowers the environmental footprint compared to new clothing production. 2. Our platform empowers women to declutter their wardrobes and turn pre-loved items into cash, creating an economic opportunity. At the same time, it offers others access to stylish and affordable fashion options, making quality clothing more accessible. 3. Beyond transactions, At Clozetsales, we foster a community around conscious consumption. By promoting pre-loved clothing and educating users on its benefits, we encourage a shift towards sustainable fashion choices, creating a positive social impact.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

At Clozetsales, we're passionate about sustainable fashion and empowering people through pre-loved clothing. Our target audience can be broken down into two key groups: 1. Eco-conscious Fashionistas: Women aged 21-39 who lives in urban areas in Nigeria who are interested in stylish and affordable clothing. They share our values of sustainability and want to minimize their fashion footprint. They appreciate the unique finds and curated selection available on Clozetsales. 2. Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs: We see a tremendous opportunity for women in Nigeria to build businesses selling pre-loved clothing. Our platform empowers them by providing a safe and convenient space to sell their items. We offer features and support that can help them grow their businesses, like marketing tools and data insights.

01.05 When was your company established?

2022-11-12

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

1

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

1

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

Chikere Breakthrough Onyinyechi (Founder & CEO) is a committed social entrepreneur, who is passionate about empowering women and advancing conversations on climate action and green economy. She is the Co-founder and operations manager at Clozetsales. Nigeria Leading fashion declutter marketplace, revolutionizing the preloved fashion resale, providing alternative income opportunities for women, minimizing fashion waste and alleviating poverty in Africa. She has over 5 years experience managing ecommerce marketing, Business development and community management. Timileyin Olabajo: Chief Technology Officer. He manages the Clozetsales technology assets such as the websites, App and Tech team. He is an efficient product designer with over 6+ years. He has collaborated with individuals and businesses of varying sizes to design, optimize and enhance websites, mobile apps and landing pages across EdTech, fintech, SaaS and e-commerce.

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

https://clozetsales.com

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

e) Secondary commodities (cars and parts, consumer durables and apparel, retail)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

4

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

1. Income Generation for Sellers: Clozetsales empowers women to sell pre-loved clothing, creating a potential source of income, especially for those without formal employment. 2. Affordable Fashion Options: By providing access to secondhand clothing at lower prices, Clozetsales makes fashion more affordable for low-income individuals.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

NIL

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

NIL

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

NIL

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

6

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

1. Income Generation: The platform allows women to sell pre-loved clothing, creating a potential source of income and financial independence, especially for those without formal employment. 2. Platform for Business Ownership: Clozetsales fosters female entrepreneurship by providing a platform for women to run their own online businesses selling pre-loved clothing. 3. E-commerce Skills: By using Clozetsales, women can develop valuable e-commerce skills such as online marketing, product photography, and customer service.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

NIL

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

NIL

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

5

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

1. Platform Fees: At Clozetsales, we generates revenue through a commission fee on each sale. This revenue allows the company to create jobs in areas like technology, marketing, and customer service. 2. Entrepreneurship Enablement: By providing a platform for buying and selling pre-loved clothes, Clozetsales fosters a community of micro-entrepreneurs, particularly women, who can run their own online businesses. 3. Income Generation for Sellers: The platform allows women to sell pre-loved clothing, creating a potential source of income and financial independence, especially for those without formal employment.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

4

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

1. Circular Economy Model: Clozetsales introduces a new concept to the Nigerian fashion industry by focusing on pre-loved clothing and extending garment lifespans. This innovation promotes resource efficiency and reduces textile waste, potentially influencing a more sustainable fashion infrastructure. 2. Online Marketplace Creation: Clozetsales contributes to the development of e-commerce infrastructure in Nigeria by providing a platform for buying and selling pre-loved clothing online. This can encourage innovation in online payment systems and logistics solutions.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

NIL

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

4

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

1. Textile Diversion from Landfills: By encouraging the reuse of clothing, Clozetsales helps divert textiles from landfills in Nigerian cities. This reduces waste management challenges and associated environmental issues like methane gas emissions. 2. Lower Demand for New Clothing: The focus on pre-loved clothing can lead to a decrease in demand for new clothing production. This translates to reduced water and energy consumption within the textile industry, indirectly contributing to a more sustainable urban ecosystem.

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

Clozetsales is a prime example of a sustainable business model that directly addresses SDG 12. 1. Extending Garment Lifespan: Clozetsales promotes the reuse of clothing by facilitating the buying and selling of pre-loved items. This extends the lifespan of garments and reduces the demand for new clothing production, which has a significant environmental impact. 2. Reduced Environmental Footprint: By encouraging pre-loved clothing, we combat the environmental issues associated with fast fashion, such as water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and textile waste. 3. Resource Efficiency: Clozetsales promotes resource efficiency in the fashion industry by encouraging pre-loved clothing, which reduces the need for virgin materials and lowers the overall environmental impact of clothing production. 4. Community Building: Clozetsales fosters a community around conscious consumption by educating users on the benefits of pre-loved clothing and its positive impact on the environment.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

5

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

1. Lower Production Emissions: By promoting pre-loved clothing, Clozetsales can indirectly lead to a decrease in demand for new clothing production. This translates to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions associated with various stages of clothing manufacturing, such as textile dyeing and transportation. 2. Less Frequent Replacements: Encouraging the reuse of clothing reduces the need for frequent replacements, lowering the overall lifecycle emissions generated by a garment.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

NIL

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

NIL

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

NIL

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

4

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

Clozetsales contributes by having the potential to build partnerships that promote sustainable fashion: 1. Industry Stakeholders: Clozetsales could collaborate with fashion brands, textile manufacturers, and waste management companies to create a more comprehensive circular fashion ecosystem in Nigeria. 2. Sustainability Organizations: Partnerships with NGOs or sustainability-focused organizations could amplify Clozetsales' impact and educational efforts around conscious consumption.

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

6

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

2

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

6

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.08 Justification for my startup

While online marketplaces for clothes exist, Clozetsales offers a unique twist by focusing specifically on the pre-loved clothing market within Nigeria. Here's how we combine existing concepts to create something innovative: 1. Sustainable Fashion Focus: We address the growing demand for eco-conscious clothing options, giving garments a second life and reducing the environmental impact of the fashion industry. This focus isn't as common in established marketplaces. Curated Marketplace: Unlike some general online retailers, Clozetsales offers a curated selection of pre-loved items. This ensures quality and caters to a specific customer who might not find what they're looking for amidst a vast amount of used clothing. Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Our platform empowers women in Nigeria by providing them with a platform to sell their pre-loved clothes and potentially build businesses. This social aspect differentiates us from traditional marketplaces.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

As Clozetsales, we face competition on a few fronts, but our focus on pre-loved clothing and women's empowerment sets us apart. Here's a breakdown: 1. General E-commerce Platforms: Broad e-commerce players like Jumia, JiJi, Konga might offer new and pre-loved clothes. We differentiate ourselves by emphasizing curation, quality control, and a strong focus on pre-loved fashion specifically. 2. Brick-and-mortar Thrift Stores: Thrift stores offer a physical shopping experience, but Clozetsales provides wider variety, convenience, and potentially better quality through online curation. 3. Social Commerce Platforms: Platforms like Facebook Marketplace or Instagram can be used for selling pre-loved clothes. However, Clozetsales offers a secure payment system, we also offer premium services were we manage inventory for sellers, buyer protection, our focus on circular fashion, a wider user base focused on pre-loved clothing, and the potential for community building

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

1. Empowering Sellers on the Platform: Most of our sellers on Clozetsales are women. I work with my team to organize workshops and webinars on sustainability and circular fashion. 2. Partnering with Women-focused Organizations: I actively collaborate with other organizations in my space and NGOs focused on women's empowerment to provide resources and mentorship for female entrepreneurs using Clozetsales. 3. Highlighting Successful Women Sellers: Showcasing success stories of female sellers on the platform inspires others and demonstrate the economic opportunities Clozetsales offers. 4. Advocacy for Women in Business: I actively participate in industry events or conferences, speaking about the importance of supporting female entrepreneurs and businesses in the fashion sector.