Living in Bloomington-Normal means the shopping options are very limited. With no Forever 21, Urban Outfitters or Nordstrom it can be difficult to keep your wardrobe unique and trendy. Although online shopping is easier than ever with next day delivery, it can sometimes cost a fortune. Look no further ladies; a new app may be the answer to our problems.
Nikki Durkin created the app 99 Dresses to deliver fashion to females at an affordable cost. Durkin first established 99 Dresses at the tender age of 18 while living in Australia. After the successful launch in 2010, Durkin set her sights on America. According to Nielsen’s Online Shipping Trends Report, clothing, accessories and shoes are the second most likely service/product for global consumers to purchase. 99 Dresses has capitalized on these trends and created a new way to keep your wardrobe fresh.
The process of purchasing and selling fashion on 99 Dresses can be broken into four steps, and are the following:
Lucy finds a dress in her closest that she hasn’t worn once. Listing items on 99 Dresses will reward Lucy with buttons. The purchase value of the dress will determine how many buttons Lucy will earn.
Now that Lucy has earned buttons from selling her unwanted dress, she can begin shopping for herself. In order to purchase an item, Lucy must have enough buttons. If Lucy does not have enough buttons, she can list another unwanted item in her closet.
Lucy found a pair of flats she has enough buttons to purchase. Lucy pays for the shipping on the item or has the option to meet the seller in person locally.
Once Lucy sells her dress and receives her flats, she is one step closer to her dream wardrobe at a fraction of the cost.
While this seems simple, there are a number of challenges that make 99 Dresses difficult to use. Users must sell in order to buy which presents problems for those who are only looking to buy through the app. This could lead to users selling items that are damaged in the quest for buttons. 99 Dresses does not allow for returns but suggests users to re-list the unwanted items. I imagine this system allowing for unwanted items to circulate to many users while the app continues to charge service charges each time an item is sold.
The app also charges “a small swap fee” for meeting the seller locally. Charging users to meet on their own time to exchange items seems unfair. In addition to purchasing an item and paying shipping or the swap fee, there is also a service fee. The service fee is 7% of the items original price. Even though the mission of 99 Dresses is make fashion accessible and affordable, it is still a business looking to make a profit.
On the other hand, the app is very user friendly and easy to navigate. Brands you may find on the app include Victoria Secret, H&M, Michael Kors, Zara, Banana Republic and more. Most importantly for some users, the app offers very low prices. Currently a pair of Fendi Flats is listed for $20.18, originally $200! This listing is an example of prices found throughout the entire app.
99 Dresses cost nothing to download from the Apple App Store. Many brands have developed apps specific to shopping with their brand but 99 Dresses is the first virtual fashion swap! Check out the app and see how much you can save, then let us know what you think.