Makatto

Makatto is a website that provides the general public with a way to buy, sell and resell all types of merchandise. Users range from larger stores and independent retailers to CASUAL sellers and crafters with handmade goods. A unique feature of the site is its users' ability to sell items in virtual 3D Storefronts. There are no posting fees.

History

Makatto.com was launched in November 2009 and is headquartered in Sayreville, New Jersey. It is a privately funded affiliate of Turbo Holdings, Inc. and has approximately 15 employees. Makatto has seen a nearly 10% increase in traffic each month since launching. It has become a side business for many of its users. Its engineers frequently add new tools and functionality to the site to help sellers gain exposure and traffic.

The site's most unique feature is its Adobe Flash-based customizable virtual 3D storefronts where users can sell their products in a realistic shopping environment. Stores can post unlimited items, select their branding, pricing and shipping methods. The second innovative feature of Makatto is its reselling option. Users without any products of their own can resell items set as public, for a commision determined by the seller. This reselling option serves as a marketing tool for sellers and a new way to earn money for resellers.

In February 2008, trouble at eBay, including a strike by some dissatisfied sellers, brought speculation that a window had been opened for smaller marketplaces to compete. At the same time, some Etsy sellers expressed unhappiness with how Etsy was handling complaints AbOUT stores. Additionally, there were complaints that on Etsy, items are difficult to find, the interface "feels slow", and the buying and selling process is United States-centric. Internal issues within these companies set the stage for sites like Makatto to move in.

Operations

Makatto makes money by charging a 5 percent commission on each sale. Users pay only when they sell an item; there are no other fees. The average sale is about $20. The site is used equally by men and women, their ages ranging from teens to adults 50+. All transactions are completed through PayPal and the site is organized by categories and tags.

Community

Makatto is an interactive community for buyers and sellers, offering similar features to those found on social networking sites. Members can contact one another through an internal messaging system, create their own blogs and gather subscribers for their own newsfeed. Users can also subscribe to favorite stores and mark favorite items. Makatto is developing Facebook and iPhone applications to offer more opportunities for interaction between Makatto members.