GOOGLE-IZED: French children’s wear e-tailer Melijoe is among the nine tech companies selected by Google for the first edition of its Scale Up program, which aims to support French tech firms in their global expansion.
“We selected Melijoe because of its strong team, its global vision and ambition — in a fast-growing sector. That’s why we believe in it,” François Braq, industry manager at Google France told WWD.
“Google dedicates to us a team of experts, a technical support, consulting and access to market trends and intelligence,” Melijoe founder and chief executive officer Nathalie Christen-Genty explained.
Launched in 2007, Melijoe.com already generates more than 70 percent of its annual turnover outside France, with the U.S., U.K., Germany and Russia representing its biggest markets. The Web site currently sees a triple-digit growth in the U.S., making its largest market abroad, Christen-Genty told WWD. It opened last month a customer service location in Manhattan.
The Web site stocks around 100 brands including Gucci children’s wear collection, Karl Lagerfeld Kids, Chloé and Petit Bateau. It posted total sales of more than $20 million globally in 2015.
Scale Up, which is rolling out to other countries, is part of a wider initiative of the search giant in France called “Google, engine of French successes.” The first promotion of the Scale Up program also includes BlaBlaCar, the popular French ride-sharing start-up.