Hukkster

Hukkster
Type of site
 E-commerce
Created by Katie Finnegan and Erica Bell
Website hukkster.com
Alexa rank 129,324 (January 2013)[1]
Launched May 2012 (2012-05)

Hukkster was a free shopping tool that tracks products online for users and notifies them via email, text message, and/or push notification when those products go on sale or when a coupon code or promotion is applicable. On Friday, Aug. 1, 2014, an email to users announced it was shutting down.

On April 9, 2015 - Hukkster relaunched with a new proposition, offering instant access to savings and foregoing the previous sales tracking technology.

Numerous media outlets and blogs including The Wall Street Journal,[2] The New York Times,[3] Mashable,[4] Women’s Wear Daily,[5] Forbes,[6] GigaOM,[7] VentureBeat,[8] Inc.,[9] and CNET[10] and BuzzFeed[11] have covered Hukkster.

History

Headquartered in New York City, Hukkster was founded in December 2011 by Katie Finnegan and Erica Bell. Finnegan and Bell met as merchandisers at J.Crew and later worked together in retail consulting at A.T. Kearney. As avid online shoppers with industry experience, Finnegan and Bell built Hukkster with a dual perspective, creating a technology that provides value for both consumers and retailers by revolutionizing the purchase cycle. The company launched in private beta by invitation only in May 2012 before launching publicly in September 2013.[12]

In November, 2012 Hukkster closed $1 MM in seed financing led by Winklevoss Capital,[13] with participation from Chris Fiore, President of Henri Bendel, and Jerome Griffith, CEO of Tumi Inc.

In March 2013, Hukkster launched an app for the iPhone and iPad.[14]

In April 2013, Hukkster announced its partnership with Self magazine, giving users the ability to "hukk" products directly from the magazine's website.[15] That same month, Time Inc. listed Hukkster as one of its 10 NYC Startups to Watch.[16]

In May 2013, Hukkster announced a $2 MM seed round, with Lisa Blau, wife of Related Companies president Jeff Blau,[17]joining existing investors Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss.

In October 2013, Hukkster launched its second-generation app. Hukkster’s new app included several product enhancements to transform the omni-channel retail experience for shoppers. During the holiday season, for the first time, shoppers had the ability to hukk and organize their favorites in a virtual wish list for easy viewing using the Hukkster app. On the new generation app, shoppers can input style numbers while browsing in stores to track the products that catch their eye from retail partners including but not limited to J.Crew, Anthropologie, Ann Taylor and Banana Republic.[18]

In 2014, Fashion Group International (FGI) named Hukkster a finalist in the annual Rising Star Awards,[19] and the company was honored at a ceremony held in January.

On March 12, 2014, Hukkster closed a $1.5 million round of venture capital. This round of financing included strategic investment from Martin Trust, CEO of Samtex (USA), Inc and former Sr Advisor to Limited Brands; Kris and Tushara Canekeratne, Co-Founders of global IT firm Virtusa; Rowland Moriarty, Chairman of Board of CRA International & former professor at HBS; and Archie Gottesman, Executive Vice President at Edison Properties.[20]

Usage

A one stop shop for savings, the latest version of Hukkster has expanded its categories beyond clothing, offering instant savings on groceries, home goods, furniture, electronics, dining, travel and even take-out.

Hukkster’s list and sharing functionality allows users to share "hukks" with friends via Facebook, Twitter and email.[21]


References

  1. ↑ "Hukkster.com Site Info". Alexa Internet. Retrieved 2013-01-26.
  2. ↑ Kolodny, Lora. "The Founders: Creators of New Shopping App Hukkster Definitely Not 'Brogrammers'". The Wall Street Journal.
  3. ↑ Lattman, Peter (November 13, 2012). "Winklevoss Twins Lead Investment in Start-Up Shopping Site". The New York Times.
  4. ↑ Pan, Joann. "Hukkster Alerts You When Your Most-Wanted Items Are Discounted". Mashable.
  5. ↑ Brown, Rachel. "Hukkster Secures Funding From Winklevoss Capital". Women's Wear Daily.
  6. ↑ Casserly, Meghan (June 21, 2012). "NYC Startup Watch: Hukkster (Or How I'll Never Miss A Sale Again)". Forbes.
  7. ↑ Kim, Ryan. "Hukkster and Trunqit: never miss a sale for a coveted product". GigaOM.
  8. ↑ Grant, Rebecca. "Funding Daily: A midday explosion of seed rounds". VentureBeat.
  9. ↑ Stillman, Jessica. "Can't Code? Start a Tech Company Anyway". Inc.
  10. ↑ Tam, Donna. "Winklevoss twins lead $750K investment in shopping startup". CNET.
  11. ↑ Maheshwari, Sapna. "Winklevoss-Backed Retail App Hukkster Scores $1.5 Million In New Venture Capital". BuzzFeed.
  12. ↑ Casserly, Meghan (June 21, 2012). "NYC Startup Watch: Hukkster (Or How I'll Never Miss A Sale Again)". Forbes.
  13. ↑ Lattman, Peter (November 13, 2012). "Winklevoss Twins Lead Investment in Start-Up Shopping Site". The New York Times.
  14. ↑ Casserly, Meghan. "Flush With Winklevoss Cash, Deal-Spotting Hukkster Goes Mobile". Forbes.
  15. ↑ Maza, Erik. "Self Magazine Teams Up With Deal Site Hukkster". WWD.
  16. ↑ "Time Inc.'s 10 NYC Startups to Watch - 2013". Time Inc.
  17. ↑ Meghan, Casserly (May 14, 2013). "Hukkster Raises $2 Million To Add Taste-Makers To Discount Fashion". Forbes.
  18. ↑ SANDERS, LORRAINE. "HUKKSTER: A FIX FOR COST-CONSCIOUS SHOPAHOLICS". Fast Company.
  19. ↑ KARIMZADEH, MARCH. "Rising Star Awards Finalists Revealed". WWD.
  20. ↑ Maheshwari, Sapna. "Winklevoss-Backed Retail App Hukkster Scores $1.5 Million In New Venture Capital". BuzzFeed.
  21. ↑ Novellino, Teresa. "Hukkster parties with 'anti-social' Winklevoss twins".
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