Eric Feng thinks he's found the perfect intersection of media and Music Archivesonline retail, and it's, well, a little outside the box.
The former Hulu executive and Kleiner Perkins partner is launching a new shopping platform built entirely around an obsession among certain parts of the internet with so-called "unboxing" videos.
SEE ALSO: The future of retail is permanent pop-up shops, according to this startupThe company is called Packagd, and Feng wants it to serve as an umbrella for a stable of apps centered on specific product categories. So far, there's only one: a tech-focused property called Unboxed. A beauty-centric addition is also in the works.
Each app will consist of a constant video stream of people unwrapping, talking through, and sometimes reviewing various products, most of which will be pulled from existing content on platforms like YouTube (with each creator's permission, of course).
Feng bills it as a sort of QVC shopping network for the mobile-first world.
"QVC has built an enormously successful brand," Feng said.
Packagd plans to supplement its secondhand videos by tapping unboxers with established online brands to host live sessions, where they answer questions, chat, and sell products.
Below each video is a buy button for every product featured in a given segment, usually via Amazon or another big retailer. Creators collect all of the affiliate revenue—a commission of sorts—that retailers pay for those items as compensation for their time.
Packagd doesn't see a dime from those deals. Instead, the company plans to make its money through original video content sponsored by a brand. For instance, Best Buy, one of the app's initial sponsors, might host a showcase with one of its floor managers.
Packagd will also sometimes sell its own strategically selected products if its data shows there's an opportunity in a space.
Kleiner Perkins put up $1.5 million to get the company off the ground, and it's also raised a funding round of $6 million from other high-profile investors.
Feng thinks this model will work because unboxing videos sit at a unique crossroads between marketing content and entertainment. As long as experts are vetted and objective, there's not much conflict between the goals of a quality seller and those of an enthusiast with an audience.
"It's really the sweet spot," Feng said. "The lines are starting to blur."
That's not to say there will be any fuzziness around what's paid for by a sponsor and what's editorial content. Feng says the distinction will be clearly labelled.
That's because, like a media outlet, Packagd relies on the trust of its users above all else. People will only visit if they feel like its a fair-minded place to learn about products about which they're enthusiastic.
Feng doesn't want it to be a one-and-done shop; the goal is to get people to hang around on the app whether they plan to buy something or not. The company cedes customers who know exactly what they want to Amazon.
"If people hang around for long enough, maybe at some point they'll decide to buy some headphones or something," Feng said.
Fyre Festival subreddit accurately reflects the dumpster fire that is the real eventMoto G Power, with massive battery for only $249, is available for preorderAs coronavirus spreads, yet another company brags about tracking you'Resident Evil 3' leaves me wanting more: ReviewUbisoft is giving away free games starting with 'Rayman Legends'I am having a great time at Fyre Festival and I don't get why everyone is upsetThousands of private Zoom videos are online for anyone to watchThe internet is deeply inspired by this man who brought 30 gallons of frosting on the bus10 iconic movie sweaters, ranked by how cozy they actually lookAmazon stops selling N95 masks to consumers to prioritize distribution to hospitalsBest desktop companions to make working from home less lonelyGoogle stops selling Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XLSilicon Valley Twitter is brawling over coronavirus theories5 essential Zoom hacks to improve your virtual hangoutsThe secret sauce of the comfiest game: 'Animal Crossing'I am Donald Trump's history tutor and everything is going greatHow the first 100 days have gone for the rest of Trump's team#EdBallsDay: The anniversary of the UK's greatest Twitter failStriking photos show empty landmarks around the worldTrump thought being president would be easier than being a reality star businessman The 10 best books of 2023, according to BookTok One Word: Salty by Myriam Gurba Motherhood Makes You Obscene by Marguerite Duras Dictionary.com names 'hallucinate' its 2023 Word of the Year Nespresso machines starting at $99 How to watch USF vs. SU football livestreams: kickoff time, streaming deals, and more Staring at a Digital Black Hole by Amir Ahmadi Arian Comcast notifying Xfinity customers of data breach affecting more than 35 million people Dice Roll: The Phantom Gambler by Michael LaPointe Best digital gift deal: Headspace subscriptions 30% off A Bridegroom Called Death by Julia Berick Watch this AI robot beat a human world record in Labyrinth, a wooden marble game Sex workers are cloning themselves with AI to make sexy chatbots Spacecraft sends back unusual view of Earth and the moon On Classic Party Fiction by Elisa Gabbert Redux: A Smile Like Collapsed Piano Keys by The Paris Review Our Contributors’ Favorite Books of 2019 by The Paris Review Survey: U.S. teens still heavy social media users, despite concerns Amazon air quality monitor deal: Easily detect smoke, allergens and pollutants 2023 was the 'Year of the Girl.' But what does that really mean?
2.3817s , 10131.5625 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【Music Archives】,Fresh Information Network