{{Short description|Online exchange for used books}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}} '''momox SE'''<ref>{{cite web |title=About us|url=https://momox.biz/en/ |language=en }}</ref> (until 13 December 2022: Momox AG, before 1 December 2021: Momox GmbH) is a Berlin-based recommerce site for used books and media founded by Christian Wegner in 2004.
Wegner has said that "momox" stands for "Moderner Medien Online Express-Ankauf" 'Modern Media Online Express Purchase'.<ref>{{cite web |first=Christoph David |last=Schneider |title=Interview mit Christian Wegner, Gründer von Momox |work=Start Stories |url=https://www.startstories.de/artikel/interview-mit-christian-wegner-gruender-von-momox/ |date=n.d. |language=de }}</ref>
== History and development == Wegner started selling used items in 2004 with 1500 € start-up capital and {{convert|20|m2}} of storage space, selling on eBay and Amazon.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vom Arbeitslosen zum Secondhand-König |work=Galileo |publisher=ProSieben |url=https://www.prosieben.de/tv/galileo/videos/2019164-vom-arbeitslosen-zum-secondhand-koenig-clip |date=21 June 2019 |language=de |access-date=26 August 2021 }}</ref> In May 2006, he founded Momox GmbH and the momox.de web site for buying books, CDs, and DVDs. The selling site '''Medimops''' opened in 2007.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |first=Katya |last=Gartz |title=Der Buchverkäufer mit dem goldenen Händchen |work=Der Tagesspiegel |url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/berliner-wirtschaft/momox-gruender-christian-wegner-der-buchverkaeufer-mit-dem-goldenen-haendchen/4138476.html |date=5 May 2011 }}</ref>
In 2010, other investors joined the company,<ref>{{cite web |title='Wachstumskapital in Millionenhöhe': Acton steigt bei momox.de ein |work=Deutsche Startups |url=https://www.deutsche-startups.de/2010/12/02/wachstumskapital-in-millionenhoehe-acton-steigt-bei-momox-de-ein/ |date=2 December 2010 |language=de }}</ref> including the venture capital investor Acton Capital Partners from Munich.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Acton investiert in Momox |url=https://www.boersenblatt.net/archiv/405750.html |access-date=2025-07-15 |website=www.boersenblatt.net |language=de}}</ref> Wegner reduced his stake to 67 per cent.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Momox-Gründer Christian Wegner: Der Buchverkäufer mit dem goldenen Händchen |url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/berliner-wirtschaft/der-buchverkaufer-mit-dem-goldenen-handchen-6727642.html |access-date=2025-07-15 |work=Der Tagesspiegel Online |language=de-DE |issn=1865-2263}}</ref> The company expanded to France, Austria, and Great Britain in 2011.<ref>{{cite news |title=momox expandiert nach Österreich |work=APA-OTS |url=https://www.ots.at/presseaussendung/OTS_20120110_OTS0174/momox-expandiert-nach-oesterreich |date=10 January 2012 |language=de }}</ref> In the same year, storage capacity was expanded with two new logistics centers in Leipzig and Neuenhagen bei Berlin, in addition to the headquarters in Berlin, and a pick-up service was offered.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Goll |first=Ulrich |date=2012-01-31 |title=Der Internet-Großhändler: Der Herr der gebrauchten Bücher |url=https://taz.de/Der-Internet-Grosshaendler/!5101866/ |access-date=2025-07-15 |work=Die Tageszeitung: taz |language=de |issn=0931-9085}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Internethändler Momox zieht in Europas größtes Logistikzentrum, MOMOX GmbH, Story - lifePR |url=https://www.lifepr.de/inaktiv/momox-gmbh/Internethaendler-Momox-zieht-in-Europas-groesstes-Logistikzentrum/boxid/272053 |access-date=2025-07-15 |website=www.lifepr.de}}</ref> In 2013, Wegner handed over his position on the board to Heiner Kroke and focused on expanding the business model for the fashion sector.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-06-21 |title=Vom Arbeitslosen zum Secondhand-König |url=https://www.prosieben.de/serien/galileo/videos/vom-arbeitslosen-zum-secondhand-koenig-v_16p6049rr1s9 |access-date=2025-07-15 |website=prosieben.de |language=de}}</ref> The following year, Momox launched the online platform ''ubup.com'' (“used but precious”), now renamed ''momoxfashion.com'' – an online shop for buying and selling second-hand clothing from well-known clothing brands.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-07-05 |title=Momox starts on the French market |url=https://www.across-magazine.com/momox-starts-on-the-french-market/ |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=ACROSS |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-02-21 |title=momox entdeckt mit ubup seine modische Seite |url=https://www.deutsche-startups.de/2014/02/21/momox-ubup-modische-seite/ |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=deutsche-startups.de |language=de-DE}}</ref> Thanks to increased international activity in the media sector and accelerated growth in the trade of branded clothing, revenue grew from €150 million in 2016<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-01-20 |title=momox wächst auf 150 Millionen Euro Umsatz |url=https://www.deutsche-startups.de/2017/01/20/momox-waechst-auf-150-millionen-euro-umsatz/ |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=deutsche-startups.de |language=de-DE}}</ref> to €200 million in 2018 and in 2019, Momox had € 250 million in sales.<ref>{{cite news |language=de |title=Re-Commerce: Momox macht 250 Millionen |work=Börsenblatt |url=https://www.boersenblatt.net/archiv/1820359.html |date=3 March 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Re-Commerce |url=https://www.boersenblatt.net/archiv/1820359.html |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=www.boersenblatt.net |language=de}}</ref>
At the end of 2018, the Norwegian private equity firm ''Verdane Capital'' acquired a significant stake in the company.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Henkel |first=Regina |date=2018-09-06 |title=Momox: Re-Commerce Marktführer erhält neuen Investor |url=https://fashionunited.ch/nachrichten/business/momox-re-commerce-marktfuehrer-erhaelt-neuen-investor/2018090615685 |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=FashionUnited |language=de}}</ref> {{Asof|2019}}, the majority owner is Verdane Capital of Norway, and Wegner has sold all his shares.<ref>{{cite news |title=Norweger stocken bei Momox auf – Gründer verkauft seine Anteile |work=Handelsblatt |url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/mittelstand/familienunternehmer/recommerce-haendler-norweger-stocken-bei-momox-auf-gruender-verkauft-seine-anteile/25180010.html |date=11 January 2019 |language=de }}</ref>
Due to Brexit, the company discontinued its service on momox.co.uk in December 2021.<ref>Message on https://www.momox.co.uk/ "Important information: Due to Brexit, we have to discontinue our service on momox.co.uk for the moment! Open sales will be processed and you can still access your account."</ref> On 2 December 2021, momox changed its legal form from a GmbH to a Aktiengesellschaft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=momox wird zur AG |url=https://momox.biz/presse/8-pressemeldungen/237-2021/1074-momox-ag-aenderung |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=momox.biz}}</ref>
In 2022, Momox expanded to Spain and Italy.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2023-01-05|title=Re-Commerce Marktführer momox expandiert nach Spanien und Italien|url=https://momox.biz/presse/240-pressemeldungen/2022/1088-momox-expandiert-nach-spanien-und-italien}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> On 14 December 2022, its corporate registration changed from a German Aktiengesellschaft (AG) to a Societas Europaea (SE).<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2023-01-05|title=momox ist nun eine europäische Aktiengesellschaft|url=https://momox.biz/presse/240-pressemeldungen/2022/1104-momox-wird-zur-se}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
== Locations ==
* Headquarters in Berlin<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |title=Online-Buchhandel Momox und Medimops: Der Algorithmus bestimmt den Preis |url=https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/magazin/online-buchhandel-momox-und-medimops-der-algorithmus-bestimmt-den-preis,10809156,27940446.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128140453/https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/magazin/online-buchhandel-momox-und-medimops-der-algorithmus-bestimmt-den-preis,10809156,27940446.html |archive-date=2016-01-28 |access-date=2025-07-16 |language=de}}</ref> * Logistics centre in Leipzig (900 employees and 70,000 square meters of floor space (as of January 2021), since 2011, books and media):<ref>{{Cite web |last=Referat Kommunikation und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit |title=Ministerpräsident - Juli 2012 |url=http://www.ministerpraesident.sachsen.de/27671.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111164530/http://www.ministerpraesident.sachsen.de/27671.htm |archive-date=2016-01-11 |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=www.ministerpraesident.sachsen.de |language=de}}</ref> According to the company, 50,000 packages are shipped there every day<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2025-07-10 |title=Momox-Chef Heiner Kroke im Interview: "Ich bin Fan getragener Kleidung" |url=https://www.lvz.de/lokales/leipzig/momox-chef-im-interview-ich-bin-fan-getragener-kleidung-WEGIKXCMTJD6JZU5LNGJFOFORI.html |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=www.lvz.de |language=de}}</ref> * Logistics centre in Neuenhagen bei Berlin (clothing)<ref name=":0" /> * Logistics centre in Stobno, Poland (books and media)<ref>{{Cite news |title=Stettin - Momox |url=http://momox.biz/karriere/standorte/stettin/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724093714/http://momox.biz/karriere/standorte/stettin/ |archive-date=2016-07-24 |access-date=2025-07-16 |work=Momox |language=de-DE}}</ref> * Two additional locations in Poland: Szczecin and Przecław<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2025-07-10 |title=Momox-Chef Heiner Kroke im Interview: "Ich bin Fan getragener Kleidung" |url=https://www.lvz.de/lokales/leipzig/momox-chef-im-interview-ich-bin-fan-getragener-kleidung-WEGIKXCMTJD6JZU5LNGJFOFORI.html |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=www.lvz.de |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=What We Offer |url=https://momox.biz/en/career/poland/111-momox-als-arbeitgeber/459-polen-arbeitgeber-was-wir-bieten-2 |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=momox.biz}}</ref>
== Reception == Based on the number of customer reviews on Amazon Marketplace, Momox ranks first with its German sales channel ''medimops'' and fourth with its French sales channel ''momox-shop.fr''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-06 |title=The World's Top Amazon Marketplace Sellers 2023 |url=https://www.webretailer.com/sellers-stores-products/top-amazon-marketplace-sellers |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=Webretailer.com |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2012, Momox received the ''Zukunftspreis Brandenburg'' for its "innovative start-up followed by breathtaking development."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Momox GmbH - Zukunftspreis Brandenburg |url=https://www.zukunftspreis-brandenburg.de/gewinner/402 |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=www.zukunftspreis-brandenburg.de}}</ref> According to an article on the German television magazine ''WISO'', in 2021, Momox processed books sent in by customers incorrectly, declaring them "unsellable" or "not sent", but then offering them for sale on Medimops.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Golem.de: IT-News für Profis |url=https://www.golem.de/sonstiges/zustimmung/auswahl.html?from=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.golem.de%2Fnews%2Fonlinehandel-verbraucherschutz-kritisiert-ankaufsportal-momox-2102-154046.html |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=www.golem.de}}</ref>
==See also== *List of online booksellers *musicMagpie
==Notes== <references/>
==External links== * [https://www.momox.de/ momox.de], buyer of used books * [https://www.medimops.de/ medimops.de], seller of used books * [https://www.momoxfashion.com/de/ momoxfashion.com], seller of used clothes
Category:Companies based in Berlin Category:Book selling websites Category:German companies established in 2006 Category:Bookstores established in the 21st century Category:Retail companies established in 2006 Category:2006 establishments in Germany Momox Category:EBay stores