Selz

About Selz

Selz offered a web-based e-commerce platform that enabled small to medium-sized businesses to sell products online. The company was founded in 2013 by Martin Rushe and Mathieu Kempe in Sydney, Australia. Selz provided a suite of tools designed to simplify the process of setting up and managing an online store, targeting entrepreneurs and businesses looking to establish a digital presence.

The platform's business model was subscription-based, with several pricing tiers that catered to the varying needs and scales of its client base. Revenue was generated through these recurring monthly or annual subscription fees, and in some cases, transaction fees. Selz provided an all-in-one solution that handled multiple facets of the sales process, including store creation with customizable templates, domain hosting, payment processing, shipping and tax management, and customer relationship management (CRM) functionalities. This integrated approach was a key part of its value proposition, as it reduced the technical barriers for businesses wanting to sell online.

The service allowed for the sale of physical products, digital goods, and professional services. Merchants could embed 'buy' buttons on existing blogs or websites, sell directly through social media channels like Facebook and Instagram, or build a complete, custom online store using Selz's tools. The platform also included a blogging engine and features for managing promotions and discounts to help users drive sales and engage with customers. A significant milestone in the company's journey was its acquisition by Amazon in January 2021. This was viewed as a strategic move by Amazon to compete with other e-commerce platforms like Shopify by offering tools for businesses to build their own direct-to-consumer online stores. However, in May 2022, Amazon announced its decision to shut down the Selz platform as a standalone service. The founder, Martin Rushe, subsequently became a director at Amazon.