The new Reboxed and Uswitch site compares deals on refurbished and used devices. It has integrated Reboxed’s technology to allow users to purchase used devices and trade in old handsets for cashback

Uswitch is using Reboxed’s Circularity-as-a-Service (CAAS) platform. This which provides retailers with a single point for circular tech covering device sourcing, grading, logistics, repair, fulfilment and performance tracking. It has been designed to integrate with existing systems, allowing brands to incorporate circular commerce into their operations. It includes options for direct stock feeds and API integrations, along with inventory management and repair services.

Defining moment 

“This is a defining moment for circular tech in the UK. Uswitch is one of the most trusted names in helping people make smart decisions about their devices and monthly costs,”said Reboxed co-founder Phil Kemish. “Circular upgrades aren’t a second option anymore, They’re simply the smart, mainstream choice.”

Kemish said the collaboration reflects Reboxed’s mission to make high-quality devices more accessible while reducing environmental impact.

Uswitch’s decision to enter the refurbished device space aligns with its strategy of offering value-driven decision-making and refurbished tech represents a logical extension of the comparison site’s mobile services.

The Reboxed alignment means Uswitch can offer verified stock, consistent grading standards, bundled warranties and a fully managed trade-in process to help reduce barriers to adoption for risk-averse consumers.

Reboxed co-founder Matt Thorne said the CAAS model allows partners like Uswitch to enter the refurbished market with “zero operational lift”.

“Our platform gives retailers everything they need to offer a truly circular upgrade experience. We provide a fully managed refurbished marketplace, instant trade-in valuations, verified like-new stock, carbon reporting and full customer-journey integration. Retailers plug in once and instantly unlock the full circular upgrade ecosystem.”

Reboxed says strict grading, warranties and quality checks have strengthened consumer confidence in the category. Analysts CCS Insight reckon 25 per cent of all UK smartphones sold in 2024 were second-hand, and over half of consumers are now consider buying refurbished. Aroound  63 per cent of 16–24-year-olds say they would choose a refurbished device for their next upgrade.

]]> https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/reboxed-and-uswitch-launch-joint-branded-online-marketplace-for-used-devices/feed/ 0 https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/mtr-group-provide-reboxed-quality-used-device/ https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/mtr-group-provide-reboxed-quality-used-device/#respond Sat, 17 May 2025 11:20:36 +0000 https://mncwp.tailrd.cloud/mtr-group-provide-reboxed-quality-used-device/ London-based sustainable technology company Reboxed has partnered with Exertis subsidiary MTR Group to expand Reboxed’s access to high-quality pre-owned phones. The collaboration will boost Reboxed’s supply of top-quality refurbished devices, enabling the company to scale its recommerce platform. Reboxed is heavily into selling used Samsung devices and MTR is and accredited Samsung repairer. Reboxed is

London-based sustainable technology company Reboxed has partnered with Exertis subsidiary MTR Group to expand Reboxed’s access to high-quality pre-owned phones.

The collaboration will boost Reboxed’s supply of top-quality refurbished devices, enabling the company to scale its recommerce platform. Reboxed is heavily into selling used Samsung devices and MTR is and accredited Samsung repairer.

Reboxed is focused on reducing electronic waste by promoting the reuse of devices. Founded in 2019 by Matt Thorne (main pic left)  and Phil Kemish (main pic right) the company aims to resell 100 million phones, laptops and tablets by 2030.

“Partnering with MTR Group allows us to offer even more high-quality devices while pushing forward our goal of rehoming 100 million devices,” said  Kemish.

“MTR Group is committed to tech circularity and sustainability,” said James Goddard, Managing Director of MTR Group. “We share the same passion and goals as Reboxed and look forward to developing our relationship further.”

 

Reboxed plans to continue expanding its partner network and promoting sustainable, affordable tech solutions. MTR Group received commendations in two categories at the Mobile News Awards: Best Trade-In Programme and Best Online Retailer.

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The collaboration is expected to elevate Reboxed’s mission of delivering top-tier refurbished products to consumers in an eco-friendly manner.

BlankIT Ltd will now oversee Reboxed’s device logistics, ensuring rigorous quality assurance. The partnership comes as Reboxed seeks to further its credentials as a sustainable circular economy by leveraging BlankIT’s quality control systems.

BlankIT’s regrading will enable Reboxed to guarantee that each device meets strict performance standards, bolstering consumer confidence.

The partnership comes just a few weeks after Reboxed launched its “Circularity as a Service” platform, designed to assist retailers and brands in integrating circular sales into their businesses.

“Our dedication to providing the highest quality refurbished devices aligns perfectly with BlankIT’s commitment to quality and sustainability. Their unmatched proficiency in device logistics and regrading will ensure that our customers receive devices that perform flawlessly,” said  Reboxed co-founder Matt Thorne.

BlankIT, founded by ex-TMTI First technical director Paul Schofield, specialiaes in quality control in secondary mobile market logistics and services such as device inspection, configuration, data erasure, and kitting, BlankIT aims to enhance the lifecycle of mobile devices through sustainable practices.

BlankIT is known for pioneering handset grading systems. Schofield was instrumental in setting up a committee of senior mobile personnel to establish common grading standards. His view is that industries should focus more on product quality to meet various consumer price points, rather than aiming for “like-new” standards unnecessarily.

NB: Paul Schofield and Reboxed co-founder Phil Kemish will be speaking at Mobile News’ Secondary Market Conference, Circular Summit, to be held on October 22-23 at Park Plaza London Riverbank. Register to attend HERE

The platform allows companies to establish and scale co-branded resale, trade-in, and recycling programs, with a focus on both revenue growth and sustainability.

It has been designed to integrate with existing systems, allowing brands to incorporate circular commerce into their operations. It includes options for direct stock feeds and API integrations, along with inventory management and repair services.

“A quarter of all mobile phones sold last year were bought second-hand or refurbished”

Key features and modules of the system include Restore (a resale platform that supports the refurbishment and resale of devices), Recirculate (trade-in programs available digitally and in-store for used electronics), Rebox (handling returns, repairs, and refurbishments), and ReGenerate (tools to track the sustainability impact and commercial performance of recommerce activities).

Phil Kemish, Co-founder and CEO of Reboxed, said, “With ReboxedOS, we aim to reduce tech waste and support brands in adopting circular commerce. The platform offers up to 50 percent savings on tech, enhancing customer value while promoting sustainability. There is growing consumer interest in refurbished tech and trade-ins, making recommerce increasingly important for brands.”

Co-founder Matt Thorne added, “We’re focused on improving the trade-in and e-commerce experience to make recommerce a core part of customer engagement, helping brands extend product life and connect with environmentally conscious consumers.”

Reboxed says the secondary market for devices iis growing 16 times faster than traditional retail, highlighting a significant shift in consumer behaviour towards more sustainable and affordable purchasing options. Its  Future of Circular Electronics Report 202 4 report claims a quarter of all mobile phones sold last year were bought second-hand or refurbished, up 19 per cent from 2021.

Reboxed has been working with Three to offer refurbished products to customers of Three’s SIM-only SMARTY brand and has partnered with Lebara Mobile and Airtime rewards on used device sales.

NB: Phil Kemish will be a speaker at the channel’s only secondary market conference Circular Summit on October 22-23 at The Park Plaza London. Book your two-day ticket HERE.

Founded in 2020 by Phil Kemish (left) and Matt Thorne Right) , Reboxed aims to provide boxed used devices for retailers and businesses, offering refurbished and pre-owned phones, laptops, tablets, and smartwatches through a ‘like new’ experience. It started with £350,000 of investment and completed its first round of £1 million seed funding two years ago.

Reboxed counts Three Mobile’s SIM-only brand SMARTY and Lebara Mobile among its clients.

The company’s original investors include YouTuber Ali-A, ex-founders of Mazuma and Envirophone, Martin McCourt, ex-CEO of Dyson, Nick Beighton, ex-CEO of ASOS, and the Ministry Of Sound group.

Co-founder Phil Kemish stated, ‘ESG pressures mean that businesses are seeking integrated solutions to help achieve their climate goals. This latest investment will be utilized to expand our growing team, build out our technology stack, and scale the brand.’

ACF Investor managing partner Tim Mills added, ‘Recommerce is growing 11 times faster than traditional retail. Too often, the price of sustainability is a compromised customer experience. We are delighted to back Reboxed as they offer UK consumers access to premium ‘like new’ products.’

ACF Investors is a private venture capital fund investing in high-potential SMEs across the UK, having invested more than £75 million in early-stage companies.”

Founded in 2020 by Phil Kemish (left) and Matt Thorne Right) , Reboxed aims to provide boxed used devices for retailers and businesses, offering refurbished and pre-owned phones, laptops, tablets, and smartwatches through a ‘like new’ experience. It started with £350,000 of investment and completed its first round of £1 million seed funding two years ago.

Reboxed counts Three Mobile’s SIM-only brand SMARTY and Lebara Mobile among its clients.

The company’s original investors include YouTuber Ali-A, ex-founders of Mazuma and Envirophone, Martin McCourt, ex-CEO of Dyson, Nick Beighton, ex-CEO of ASOS, and the Ministry Of Sound group.

Co-founder Phil Kemish stated, ‘ESG pressures mean that businesses are seeking integrated solutions to help achieve their climate goals. This latest investment will be utilized to expand our growing team, build out our technology stack, and scale the brand.’

ACF Investor managing partner Tim Mills added, ‘Recommerce is growing 11 times faster than traditional retail. Too often, the price of sustainability is a compromised customer experience. We are delighted to back Reboxed as they offer UK consumers access to premium ‘like new’ products.’

ACF Investors is a private venture capital fund investing in high-potential SMEs across the UK, having invested more than £75 million in early-stage companies.”

SIM-only mobile brand SMARTY and refurbished tech brand Reboxed have joined forces to offer its customers exclusive discounts on refurbished phones through Reboxed ‘rehome, rebox, repeat’ service.

Reboxed lets customers sell, swap, or shop quality reboxed, refurbished tech and ensures every handset sold has a 12 month warranty by inspecting, data cleaning and certifying every device. 

SMARTY is partnering with the brand to offer discounts of up to £50 off Reboxed phones for pre-existing customers so they can enjoy affordable phones to accompany their SIM cards.

The exclusive SMARTY Reboxed discount offers SMARTY customers £10 off handsets up to £300, £30 off handsets from £301 to £600 and £50 off handsets over £600. 

SMARTY Mobile head of marketing Sayed Hajamaideen said: “For every reboxed device sold, reboxed plants 5 trees to help offset the products carbon footprint. 

“We’re delighted to introduce reboxed as an official and exclusive tech partner of SMARTY and to be able to offer our customers even better value on their already competitively priced handsets.”

Reboxed co-founder Phil Kemish added: “People have a growing need for quality tech without the long contracts and costs associated with buying new. 

“This, mixed with our need to make smarter choices for the planet, make the reboxed and SMARTY partnership a better way to keep up-to-date with the latest tech while making a better choice for the planet.”

Technology has become a vital part of life over the past couple of decades, with new smartphones, laptops, wearables and other products appearing on the market every day.

But this range of choices comes with severe consequences, as the world faces an environmental crisis partly due to the amount of electronic waste produced by companies and households.

One recent study estimated that in 2021 alone, the global mountain of e-waste outweighed the Great Wall of China, at 57 million tonnes.

Taking these findings into account, the Royal Society of Chemistry has called for a global effort from governments, businesses and the public to develop a stronger circular economy.

If action is not taken, experts say the UK could become the biggest e-waste producer per capita in Europe by 2024, overtaking current leaders Norway.

Peak Consumption

Players in the repair and refurbished industry talk of the trends and urgent need to resolve such problems.

Chris Everitt, managing director of mobile repair specialist ArmaFone, isn’t surprised by the data from 2021.

“We’re not just talking about mobile phones and laptops now – the first generation of other types of ‘smart’ devices are coming to the end of their useful life and an upgraded version is available,” he says.

“But I also think we are at a stage where increased noise around e-waste is playing on our collective consciousness and we are recycling some of our ‘hoarded’ e-waste such as that drawer full of superseded mobile phones at home.

“However, the ongoing increase in consumption of electronics-reliant devices could surpass the trend of donating old devices.”

Like Everitt, Matt Thorne, co-founder of refurbished tech company Reboxed, isn’t shocked by the latest findings, saying the acceleration of technology shows no signs of stopping.

“As a society, we are hitting peak consumption,” he says. “As marketing and social media combine, our desire for more is exploited.

“With technology being such a symbol of status, it’s no wonder people are in a rush to upgrade and discard the previous device.”

Electronic Growth 

As well as smartphones, chargers and laptops, many more items – such as toothbrushes and hairbrushes – are now more commonly electronic.

These items are not easily recycled, with overconsumption and overproduction of electronics meaning that more goes into landfill because consumers don’t know how to discard devices properly.

Sunny Ratnam, founder of refurbished company Nxt2Nu, believes there isn’t enough public awareness about how to dispose of electronics.

“There are plenty of great solutions out there, but people are either not aware or they have had a bad experience with a process that may be too arduous for them,” he says.

“The trick is to make it effortless for the consumer to deal with. This will enable the volume to come back through the appropriate routes.”

More than two-thirds of British households are hoarding old phone chargers at home, while there are up to 60 items of old, unused tech per household, according to research by global tech company Okdo.

The sooner a device gets recycled, the greater the chance it can be reused, and many big retailers, specialist repair facilities and charities will take used electronics.

Thorne emphasises the importance of recycling devices as soon as possible. “At the end of life, most local recycling centres cater for electronics with specific skips and there are plenty of online initiatives too,” he says.

Everitt says the recycling industry is adapting, with a whole new segment now focusing on e-waste and raising awareness of the damage it causes.

“The development of the e-waste sector is a step behind the sector that creates the electronics in the first place.

However, governments and councils can do a lot more. “Increasing the awareness of the facilities that are already available is the next step that needs to be taken at this stage.”

Call To Action

Like Everitt, many climate activists have been asking the UK government to put more effort and funding into finding a solution for saving the environment.

Recent research from US cartridge supplier Toner Buzz revealed that for every million mobile phones recycled globally, we could recover more than 35,000 pounds in weight of copper.

Not only that, but if we safely dispose of electronic devices through recycling, we could also stop toxic and hazardous materials from damaging people’s health and the environment.

Thorne also calls on global governments to crack down on overproduction and find ways to prevent e-waste from spiralling out of control.

“Governments can enforce more ethical production and design standards on manufacturers, ensuring things are made to last and clamping down on planned obsolescence,” he says.

“Enforcing initiatives like right-to-repair will also help level the playing field and cut down on waste.”

But in the end, Ratnam thinks that although the government can add further regulation, the general public themselves ultimately need to be aware of the urgency of taking responsibility into their own hands.

“Just because there aren’t stringent rules in place doesn’t mean we should carry on the way we are,” he says.

“It is on us to make the changes in our behaviour which will support the overall goal, and we should look internally rather than externally for the solutions.”

Business Effort

As well as the public and global governments, large businesses and manufacturers have been called on to improve sustainability.

A recent survey by software company SOTI revealed that almost seven in ten IT leaders of international companies thought firms were discarding devices too early, even though 60 per cent of leaders had targets in place for cutting e-waste.

“Tech giants cannot ignore the environmental movement; to do so could marginalise themselves,” says Everitt.

“We are seeing some third-party and self-repair options emerging. I believe that will gain momentum and become more accessible, which is a positive thing for the consumer, the repair industry and the planet.”

He also thinks manufacturers can help cut down e-waste by including a set of ‘close down’ options with devices to guide the consumer on what to do once they are no longer usable.

Ratnam says manufacturers, businesses and brands need to shift their focus from short-term profitability to sustainability, while Thorne is optimistic that this shift will occur soon.

“Every business and brand across most industries will now be striving to be more sustainable,” he says.

“There are many ways of doing this, from ethical sourcing to using sustainable materials in products, packaging and marketing, and using local sustainable suppliers and partners where possible.”

It is estimated that the carbon footprint of gadgets and internet use may make up two to five per cent of global greenhouse emissions, with manufacturing of these products accounting for a significant chunk of this percentage.

But with more and more unique refurbished and repair companies emerging, the public now has access to more sustainable ways of purchasing tech.

Sustainability Roadmap

At Nxt2Nu, Ratnam says the company has a “sustainability roadmap” to build trust in refurbished technology, while also providing customers with a free biodegradable case and fully recyclable packaging when they purchase a device.

“I’m proud to say we have achieved what we set out to do initially and ahead of what we originally planned for,” says Ratnam.

“Doing things like this is a way of developing a business culture that holds sustainability as a core objective – that’s how we plan to deliver long-term sustainability.”

Meanwhile, Everitt says ArmaFone’s tech-repair service contributes to the circular economy and extends the lifespan of electronics by taking in damaged devices, then refurbishing and selling them.

“We work with local recyclers to process e-waste correctly and we are experiencing an increasing number of businesses that will take refurbished devices,” he says.

“Whether to keep costs down or for environmental reasons, I can only see that as a positive trend.”

Reboxed focuses on the customer experience and encourages reuse over buying new, as well as finding ways to make the experience straightforward.

“We’re building our platform out to make this super-easy, from smart financial ways to pay to easier ways to upgrade, so customers can unlock dormant value,” Thorne says.

“Alongside this, we’re working hard to make sense of all the data around environmental issues, so we can help customers to track their impact and build a profile of their sustainability which we can later reward in the form of discounts and other benefits.”

Attitudes

A Uswitch study from May showed that 22 million Brits are currently considering buying a refurbished phone, A third of those people are motivated by the desire to make sustainable choices, while 24 per cent are motivated by price.

Everitt believes it will become more acceptable to own older devices given that the cost of some flagship smartphones is now surpassing £1,000, and that many people will turn to the used market due to social and economic influences.

But with some forecasting that global e-waste will double by 2030 compared with 2014, can we keep things under control?

“The smart device and IoT market is currently undergoing a steep development curve across a wide range of products and services, all adding to the volume of e-waste generated,” says Everitt.

“Therefore, I believe that the total volume of e-waste is set to increase, but I think the proportion of waste generated from every purchased device will decrease.”

Ratnam believes time will tell and that it’s hard to guess how much e-waste will be produced in the next decade.

“There is certainly more awareness of the long-term damages we are causing through short-term focuses,” he says.

As a result, he has his fingers crossed that the green transition will happen at real scale. “I would like to think we are seeing a change now in people’s understanding and perception, as it’s undeniable what will happen if we don’t make a change for the better.”

London-based refurbishment company Reboxed has partnered with loyalty app Airtime Rewards to enable customers to make cash and earn rewards while fighting e-waste.

The Airtime Rewards ‘More Ways to Earn’ feature gives customers the opportunity to trade in devices for cash or credit towards airtime bills, or donate to a cause.

Through the TechCheck system offered by Reboxed, customers can receive the exact price for their device in seconds via an AI-based online test or mobile app.

The phone will then be data-wiped, with customers paid within 24 hours of the device being received.

“Helping our members make sustainable choices is something we’re really passionate about,” said Airtime Rewards co-founder Josh Graham.

“Our partnership with Reboxed is a win-win, helping to tackle e-waste while also rewarding our members for making a positive impact.” Reboxed is aiming to re-home 100 million devices by 2030.

“We are really excited to partner with Airtime Rewards, which is looking to help fight tech waste and add value back to customers by offering innovative, easy ways to free up cash and making a positive impact on the planet at the same time,” said Reboxed co-founder Phil Kemish.

The pandemic has posed many challenges for businesses and consumers alike, with the fallout likely to be felt for some time yet.

This could have a direct impact on one particular rapidly growing market; that’s the refurbished tech market and, more specifically, refurbished smartphones.

With people really looking to save money in this day and age, the lure of buying refurbished smartphones and tech is greater than ever – according to one company, at least.

Reboxed, a refurbished tech company set up by CEO Phil Kemish and his co-founder Matt Thorne, was born during the pandemic, launching in September 2020.

The refurbished sector is one that is growing, while the overall smartphone market remains fairly flat.

Analyst firm IDC tips the market to expand at an annual compound growth rate of 11.2 per cent in the five years to 2024, with 351.6 million refurbished phones sold in the final year of that period.

Indeed, readers of Mobile News will be well-aware of the surge in interest in the refurbished market, documented in the past few years.

Disruptive past

For the duo behind Reboxed – a circular marketplace where you can buy and sell used and refurbished tech – it’s their first venture into the tech world, with the pair boasting a marketing past – most notably as co-founders of Disrupt Media, a marketing agency they subsequently sold in 2017.

“The inception of the idea came when we were running our last business,” said Thorne. “We decided quite early on that it was really expensive to buy tech for the people that work for us,” said Thorne. “Personally I’ve always loved tech, and have always had the latest Apple gadgets.

But when I had to start buying them for someone else, I started thinking let’s get refurbished products – and we were really surprised how good some of the refurb products were. It was a bit of an eye- opening experience for us from a cost- saving point of view.”

Reflecting on the early days of the business, Kemish says the pair didn’t see each other for six months, while business meetings with clients were carried out on Zoom.

“We didn’t see our first investors or hires in the early months due to the pandemic,” he said. “We did it all on Zoom.”

Big opportunities 

The refurbished market is impossible to ignore, says Kemish, who sees it as a market that presents ample growth opportunities.

“Nobody can ignore this market, whatever you want to call it – be that refurbished, used or pre-loved. This market is not going to go away.

“Other markets such as cars and fashion are markets that have grown very aggressively in the used space, and technology is something that people consume a lot of.”

For Kemish and Thorne, the ultimate goal is about making tech more accessible and affordable for consumers, while hammering home the mindset that buying products
that aren’t brand new is acceptable.

And the pair have lofty goals. When Reboxed launched, the company outlined ambitious plans to ‘rehome’ 100 million devices by 2030.

The company has also pledged to give one per cent of all profits to environmentalcharities as part of the 1% for the Planet initiative, as well as planting five trees for every device the company buys or sells. Reboxed planted 13,000 trees in its first year.

“We’ve got a mission to do over 100,000 trees this year,” said Kemish. “We always set these difficult targets, but we believe it’s achievable, and this is the best and quickest way to get CO2 levels to a normal level. Everyone should be looking at sustainability.”

There’s also a perceived lack of innovation in newer smartphones that presents an opportunity for people to save money by buying second-hand phones.

“People are looking for savings more than ever when buying phones and there’s been a shift in recent years, where innovation has dried up a bit,” says Thorne.

“For the average consumer and your even more clued-up tech-heads, there’s not a big enough reason to upgrade to the newest phones each year. Just look at the iPhone 12 and 13: the differences are barely noticeable to people.”

This is where the duo say Reboxed is appealing, with its refurbished handsets at significantly cheaper prices than brand- new ones.

Expertise from outside

Getting started in an industry that requires a lot of know-how meant that Kemish and Thorne needed to seek expertise from outside to aid them.

They did just that, sourcing the help of Pete Petrondas, the founder and former CEO of refurbished phone firm Envirofone.

Petrondas was the first person the pair spoke to when kicking off Reboxed, says Kemish, and is one of many investors in the company.

In previous investment rounds, Reboxed has raised more than £1 million in investment, with ex-Dyson CEO Martin McCourt and former Mazuma-man Charlo Carabott added as board members, plus a tie-up with the founders of the Ministry of Sound. The company also has several other angel investors.

And the company has formed strong relationships with suppliers Mazuma and Mobimarket.

“We work with Mazuma and they’re one of our partners who sell in our shop,” said Kemish. “Mazuma has supported us from the beginning and gave us a lot of help in getting stock last year when it was difficult to source. It’s exciting to have partners in the UK who are established and supporting us.”

Reboxed stock iphones and Samsung’s, as well as selling a range of AirPod pros and their own brand sustainable accessory range.

“We’re getting a lot of requests from customers for other Android phones,” said Kemish. “We will start selling refurbished laptops soon and will also launch new lines, such as HomePods and AirPods Pros.”

Flourishing segment

In recent years, many businesses have been looking to cash in on the growing refurbished segment of the market, with analyst firm IDC previously projecting the market would be worth $52.7 billion this year alone.

But is the market too saturated, with vendors and more distributors getting in on the action?

Kemish doesn’t believe so, although he thinks it’s a fragmented sector.

“There’s so many different players that nobody knows who to trust,” he said. “When you have too much choice, you don’t buy. “If we can create a place where we can build that trust, that quality, and relationships with our partners and customers, then we’ll be able to help other people resell at speed and at a good price.”

Key to the company’s strategy to be different is its quality-check system.

This is called TechCheck, a 70-point diagnostics test that grades each individual phone, providing a score out of five.

This is a different approach to the grading system more frequently used in the industry, which tends to favour letters such as A+ to D rather than a numerical approach.

So far, meanwhile, there is no one set grading system in place for refurbished companies to follow.

“Our initial strategy was to change the way the grading system worked with a numeric system,” said Thorne.

“We implemented this at the beginning, but the problem we’ve had is trying to translate this to customers. It’s something we’re committed to long term, but we’ve had to scale back in order to get our customers and the suppliers within the industry to understand it. We will increase its sophistication and it will be a numeric system.”

The tough stance on heavily checking devices before listing for sale has so far stood the company in good stead, with Reboxed reporting a low return rate at just four per cent.

Stock issues

As with any industry, the refurbished sector has faced challenges –and it’s no different for Reboxed. One of these has been trying to source stock, something that has impacted many businesses during the pandemic.

“There was a period of time when iPhone 11s and XRs were the hottest phones and we couldn’t get any,” said Thorne.

There have been massive shortages because of the demand for old iPhone models, he said.

“The pandemic has meant that everyone is saving money – plus Brexit stopped phones coming into the country, so the supply was finite. At one point, we had partners with stock locked out the country.”

Thorne also notes that the cost to ship products into the country from China became higher, sometimes up to three times the usual amount.

The impact of stock shortages cost Reboxed having an even stronger holiday season at the end of last year, Kemish adds.

“At Christmas, we missed out on about £250k to 300k in revenue. But we missed out because we didn’t have the stock available. It shows what we can do if we have the products in place.”

Both agree that trying to get consumers to buy refurbished phones can also be a challenge in itself, in terms of changing their mindset from the tradition of purchasing new models.

Building the brand

In the near future, Reboxed is bracing itself for a fresh round of investment as the firm looks to continue its expansion, and Kemish and Thorne dream up a vision of a global brand – starting first in Europe and then across the pond, in the US.

“We’re excited about building a global brand; it’s one thing that we haven’t got on our résumé,” said Kemish.

“From our point of view, we want to build a high-growth team from the ground up, be able to operate in multiple territories and have a shot at being category king.

“We’re competitive guys and we want to have fun, but we want to build something that has legacy.”

This will require the company bringing in more suppliers and expanding the existing team of just 10 employees, said the pair.

Stopping short of sharing any revenue targets, the duo are intent on being the go- to refurbished seller for consumers.

“There are immutable laws in branding: history has shown us that only three people can win,” said Thorne.

“These are the first to market, the second that does it different, and the third that does it better. This happens with everything. The fact that a number of brands are flooding in is great and we’re not scared. That’s why we’re here: we want a big slice of this.”