Grabble Explained

Grabble
Operating System:	iOS

Grabble was a fashion and lifestyle mobile commerce platform that currently operates on the iOS platform in the UK. Grabble shut down in 2018.^[1]

History

Grabble was originally launched in 2013, by founders Daniel Murray and Joel Freeman, with the idea of curating high street fashion, whereby users could save pieces by “grabbing” them from both the Grabble website and external retail sites using the “Grab” button.^[2]

Relaunched in August 2014 as an app for Android and iOS, the app was described as “ASOS meets Pinterest, with sales alerts” and “Tinder for fashion”, due to the swiping system used to like or dislike a product, and a small editorial team was set up to “curate items separately to give the app a more exclusive feel.”^{[3] [4]}

Features

Everything featured on Grabble can be saved to a wish-list and purchased by the user on the app itself. Products can be found through searching brands or categories, however, Grabble encourages the discovery element through curated editorial content.

Editorial content consists of stories covering upcoming designers; trend spotting across fashion, interiors, home ware, beauty tutorials; and lifestyle, such as fitness, food, and travel.

Grabble offers sale alerts, a daily curated New In section and daily themed collections, where users can swipe left or right on products.

Users are able to track their orders and share products or wishlists via email or social media. In 2016, Grabble introduced a rewards scheme for both new and existing users.

Funding

In February 2015, Grabble closed an Angel funding round whose investors included Skimlinks founder Alex Hoye; Guy Hipwell, former Harrods e-commerce director; Alex Tait, former head of e-commerce at Topshop owner Arcadia; and media guru Darren Childs, chief executive of UKTV.^[5]

Reception

Since launch, Grabble has gained mostly positive reactions and coverage from various British media outlets:

InStyle Future Fifteen 2016: Daniel Murray^[6]

TechCity Insider 100 List (2014)^[7]

WIRED Europe’s 100 Hottest Start Ups 2016^[8]

Awards

Drapers Digital Awards 2015: Best Tech Start Up^[9]

Decoded Fashion Awards 2015: Best Use of Mobile^[10]

Everline Future 50 2014 Winner^[11]

02 Smarta 100 Award 2014: Mobile Business of the Year^[12]

Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2014 (Awarded to Daniel Murray)^[13]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Mobile shopping app Grabble winds down . 19 July 2018 .
2. Web site: Grabble – Grab the best fashion from anywhere.. Dreamstake. Dreamstake. 7 September 2016.
3. News: Teather. Charlie. Grabble - The Fashion Finder: 'Grab' the latest looks with new 'Tinder for Fashion' app. 7 September 2016. Evening Standard. 2014-09-25.
4. Web site: GRABBLE: TINDER FOR FASHION. Sloan Magazine. Sloan Magazine. 7 September 2016.
5. News: Burn-Callander. Rebecca. Grabble app raises £1.2m from high profile e-commerce angels. 7 September 2016. The Telegraph. 2015-02-15.
6. Web site: Mac Donnell. Chloe.
   1. FutureFifteen: Meet The Movers, Shakers And Makers To Name Drop Right Now
   . InStyle. Time Inc. 7 September 2016.
7. Web site: TechCityInsider100. TechCityInsider. TechCityInsider. 7 September 2016.
8. News: Daniel. Beth. 10 UK firms make it onto WIRED Europe's 100 hottest startups list. 7 September 2016. TechCityNews. 2016-08-16.
9. Web site: The Drapers Digital Awards Winners 2015. Drapers. 7 September 2016.
10. Web site: LONDON 2015 SUMMARY. Decoded Fashion.
11. Web site: THE EVERLINE FUTURE 50 DEMONSTRATES THE VERY BEST OF THE ENTREPRENEURIAL CULTURE IN THE UK. Real Business Disrupts. 7 September 2016.
12. Web site: O2 Smarta 100 Award Winners Announced. Smarta. Smarta. 7 September 2016.
13. Web site: Young entrepreneur grabbing new e-commerce opportunities. Shell liveWIRE. Shell.