The Go-To, a London-based premium gifts marketplace, announced on Wednesday that it has secured £500,000 in pre-seed funding.
The round was led by angel investors, including AA & Sons, Afflelou’s Family Office (Lydia, Universal Standard), Michele Faissola (Printemps Group Board Member), and Fergal Mullen (General Partner at Highland Europe).
How was The Go-To born?
Victoire Tardy-Joubert founded The Go-To offers a one-stop solution for identifying personal and curated gifts based on recipients’ lifestyles and interests.
Paris-born, London-raised founder Victoire is a purveyor of savoir-vivre. From backgammon enthusiasts to cocktail connoisseurs, Victoire has always been fond of finding the perfect gift for her friends and family.
Having worked on brand partnerships and the loyalty programme at MATCHESFASHION, Victoire built her experience working closely with leading brands whilst also understanding the importance of curation and placing the focus on the individual.
“Our goal is to offer a consolidated online platform for truly unique and thoughtful gifts so that customers stop falling back on impersonal ideas due to lack of time or inspiration,” says Victoire.
Platform for unique luxury gifts
The company is on a mission to provide independent brands and customers with an online platform for unique luxury gifts and become the “go-to” destination for gifting.
According to a survey conducted on 150 respondents, 94% of people look for inspiration when buying a gift.
Another report reveals that 50% of UK adults dislike at least one gift they receive a year, and over 11 hours are spent on average looking for gifts during the holiday season.
The Go-To says that the items are carefully curated by the finest independent designers and artisans globally.
“The Go-To cuts through this hassle to deliver inspired gifts that speak to every personality. Our items are carefully curated from the finest independent designers and artisans around the world – to redefine gifting as we know it,” says The Go-To founder Victoire Tardy-Joubert.
The UK company challenges the traditional model by taking the focus away from key trading days, such as Christmas and Valentine’s Day, to create a year-round destination, which focuses on the detail and thoughtfulness that go into choosing a meaningful present.
“Our goal with The Go-To is to offer a consolidated online platform for truly unique and thoughtful gifts so that customers stop falling back on impersonal ideas due to lack of time or inspiration.”