Bazar is a sustainability-focused marketplace specializing in overstock products and customer returns. Founded by Annie Hu, Bazar addresses the logistical challenges of managing returns and overstock for brands while driving sustainability. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Bazar co-founder and CEO Annie Hu to gain a deeper understanding of the company.
Annie Hu’s Background
What is Annie Hu’s background? Hu said:
“I grew up in Asia and moved to California to attend UC Berkeley, where I developed a deep interest in sustainability, thrifting, and circular fashion. After college, I worked in venture capital, focusing on e-commerce and consumer brands. That experience gave me firsthand exposure to the massive challenges brands face with customer returns and excess inventory, which ultimately inspired me to start Bazar.”
Formation Of The Company
How did the idea for the company come together? Hu shared:
“Bazar was born after I visited a fast fashion warehouse in Chicago and saw over 100,000 returned items—perfectly wearable—on their way to landfills. Returns are expensive to process and, for many brands, simply not worth handling. This is especially true for international brands without U.S. infrastructure. I started Bazar as a solution that makes returns profitable and sustainable, helping brands offload inventory quickly while giving products a second life.”
“As CEO, I oversee growth, marketing, vendor partnerships, and operations, working closely with brands to refine our model and scale efficiently.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Hu reflected:
“One of my favorite moments was when we unexpectedly went viral on TikTok—our site crashed (not my favorite part, lol), but the demand was insane. Seeing customers genuinely excited about our products, and knowing that every sale was keeping fashion out of landfills, was a huge validation of our mission.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Hu explained:
“Bazar is an end-to-end ecommerce solution that helps brands resell returns, overstock, and unsellable inventory while protecting their brand image. We offer a seamless, tech-driven approach to inventory recovery through:
— Warehousing & Inspection – We handle storage, quality checks, and processing, making it effortless for brands to offload excess inventory.
— Seamless Integration – Our system syncs directly with brands’ inventory and order management, automating the resale process.
— Flexible Resale Channels – Brands can choose where and how they sell, including:
1.) Bazar’s fast-growing marketplace
2.) White-labeled resale sites under their own branding
3.) Embedded resale solutions integrated directly into their existing storefronts
Challenges Faced
What challenges have Hu and the team face in building the company? Hu acknowledged:
“One of our biggest challenges has been managing operational complexity at scale. Returns and overstock come with unpredictable volume, SKU discrepancies, and logistical hurdles. To solve this, we’ve focused on building automation tools that make inventory management seamless for brands. Additionally, we’ve optimized our fulfillment process and created structured workflows to handle large-scale inventory efficiently.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Hu noted:
“We started as a simple marketplace, but today, Bazar has evolved into a fully integrated ecommerce platform that offers:
— Plug-and-play integration – Brands can easily connect their inventory systems without complex setup.
— Automated ERP & POS syncing – Our platform auto-syncs with brands’ existing ERP and POS systems, ensuring seamless inventory management and real-time updates.
— Flexible resale options – Brands now have more choices, including selling through our marketplace, white-labeled resale sites, or embedded solutions within their own storefronts.
By continuously enhancing our technology, we’ve made it easier for brands to turn returns into revenue effortlessly while maintaining control over their brand image and pricing strategy.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Hu cited:
— Giving hundreds of thousands of products a second life, preventing them from ending up in landfills.
— Shaping the conversation around ecommerce, increasing awareness among brands and consumers about sustainable returns.
— Partnering with brands like Halara, Cider, and Few Moda, proving our model works at scale.
— Building a passionate community of resellers and customers, who are driving real demand for ecommerce.
Customer Success Stories
When asking Hu about customer success stories, she highlighted:
“One of our resellers started with a single mystery bundle and quickly scaled up to subscribe to our bulk inventory every week. She now runs a successful online store entirely powered by Bazar’s supply—turning ecommerce into a full-time business.”
“Another success story comes from a fashion brand that used Bazar to clear out its returns. They saved thousands in storage and logistics costs while ensuring their excess inventory didn’t end up in landfills—all without damaging their brand positioning.”
Funding/Revenue
When asking Hu about the company’s funding and revenue details, she revealed:
“Bazar is backed by General Catalyst and has been profitable while scaling. We’ve built a sustainable business model by balancing profitability with competitive pricing, operating with low margins and a lean team.”
Total Addressable Market
Q.) What total addressable market (TAM) size is the company pursuing? Hu assessed:
“The U.S. fashion returns and overstock market is valued at over $300 billion annually, with fashion resale projected to reach $84 billion by 2030. Bazar operates at the intersection of these two massive markets, creating an entirely new category of structured ecommerce that transforms returns into revenue.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Hu affirmed:
— Tech-first approach – Automated syncing, order tracking, and branded resale tools make it easy for brands to participate.
— Completely free for brands – Unlike traditional resale platforms, Bazar doesn’t charge brands for using our service.
— Speed & sell-through rates – We move inventory in days, not months.
— Brand protection – We never discount products in a way that undermines brand positioning.
— Flexible models & ecommerce options – We serve brands at different scales, allowing them to choose the best fit for their needs.
— Sustainability at scale – We’re not just reselling—we’re redefining how e-commerce handles returns and overstock.
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future goals? Hu concluded:
— Expanding beyond fashion into other categories
— Building advanced automation tools for brands to offload inventory effortlessly.
— Growing B2B partnerships, supporting more resellers and small businesses.
— Strengthening EU expansion, testing international market demand.
