Recently, the MA in Sustainable Fashion and Innovation programme from the School of Fashion and Textiles (SFT) at PolyU visited OnTheList, gaining valuable insights into its innovative and sustainable business model. As a B Corp certified company, OnTheList balances profit with purpose, turning inventory into opportunities — a philosophy shared by Managing Director (HK), Mr. Giovanni Musillo. This approach addresses excess inventory and aligns with sustainable practices, underscoring the brand’s dedication to environmental responsibility.
Ms. Axelle Maillard, Head of E-commerce, and Ms. Lorraine Cheung, Operations Manager, shared the challenges of setting up offline and online purchasing platforms. They emphasized the differences in managing inventory pressure in physical stores versus developing promotion strategies online. Offline operations require meticulous inventory management to alleviate pressure, while the e-commerce team focuses on engaging and retaining customers in a digital environment.
The visit also highlighted the marketing department’s role in adapting to ever-changing environments. Ms. Coco Chan, Assistant Marketing Manager, shared that continuous learning of new platforms and trends keeps OnTheList at the industry forefront, ensuring relevance and effective audience reach.
A key challenge discussed was the balance luxury brands must maintain between preserving their high-end status and engaging in promotions. OnTheList addresses this through its membership model, offering exclusive events that allow brands to promote discreetly without compromising their image.
This visit provided students with a comprehensive view of how a socially responsible company operates and highlighted the significant impact businesses can have on the environment and society through sustainable practices. It inspired students to consider sustainability’s broader implications and their roles in driving positive environmental change.
About OnTheList
Founded in 2016 by Delphine LeFay and Diego Dultzin Lacoste, OnTheList is Asia’s first members-only flash sales concept. They work with retail brands to sustainably sell past season items, preventing landfill waste and offering steep discounts to members. With over 600 flash sales and a community of 500k+ members, they’ve expanded to several regions including Singapore and Australia. Committed to sustainability, OnTheList has saved over 1.6 million items from landfills. Their CSR initiative, OnTheLove, furthers their mission by partnering with local organizations and hosting charity sales.
