28 E-Commerce Companies in San Francisco Changing How We Shop

Online shopping has become a part of everyday life. With retailers shifting focus to online operations and direct-to-consumer brands sprouting up constantly, e-commerce has woven itself deeply into the fabric of the tech community. When it comes to online retailers, brands and companies furthering progress in e-commerce, San Francisco is far from lacking. Find out who got their start in the Bay Area and learn more about these e-commerce companies in San Francisco you should know. 

 

As its name suggests, Whatnot is an e-commerce space where people can buy, sell and trade niche items. It broadcasts livestream shopping experiences, where traders can show and search for collectibles like coins, memorabilia and vintage fashion, with the opportunity to see the items live before purchasing. Transactions take place live in real time, bringing some of the excitement and energy of an in-person auction experience. Whatnot users also use the platform as a community space, bidding with and against other collectors they come to know. 

 

Lily AI makes AI-based marketing products for e-commerce. Using customers’ search terms, it provides categorized and keyworded product recommendations designed to feel like a personally curated list — like personal shopping, but digital and instant. Lily uses colloquial search terms like “wedding guest dress” or “cute beach coverup,” allowing users to experience a boutique shopping experience on an e-commerce platform.

 

Kinship is building stronger bonds between pets and their human caretakers by empowering owners with greater pet insights. The company's platforms—Wisdom Panel, Whistle, and VetInsight—deliver valuable information on a pet’s physical and nutritional background. With a more complete profile and understanding of their pet's history, owners can help their pets thrive.

 

Quartzy is a life sciences equipment distributor helping companies and laboratories remain stocked with the critical supplies they need to reach their goals and bring new possibilities to life. The distributor has access to more than 10 million products from over 1,800 leading brands and also operates a proprietary platform that makes requesting, approving, ordering  and managing inventory easier than ever.

 

Taskrabbit is a platform connecting people with “taskers” who help check items off the to-do list. From furniture assembly to yard cleanup, Taskrabbit enables users to browse by skill, reviews and pay rates to find the best person for the job.

 

hims & hers offers a modern approach to wellness by removing the stigma that has been attatched to the treatment of several common health conditions. The company’s innovative telehealth approach makes receiving care as simple as picking up a smartphone, with medication for conditions such as hair loss, anxiety, erectile dysfunction and acne, as well as birth control treatment, prescribed by real doctors in record times.

 

Shift Technologies is an online marketplace for buying and selling used cars. If a buyer is interested in purchasing a car, the company’s concierges will deliver the car to their home, they’ll allow users to test drive the car and the concierge will then answer any and all questions the potential buyer may have. Shift even handles all the listing, price estimates, test drives and paperwork for the seller.

 

Instacart is a grocery and household goods delivery service. Users pick out items online, shoppers pick up the selected items at local stores and deliver them straight to a user’s door.

 

Hungry? Thirsty? Throwing a party? Postmates has you covered. The on-demand delivery app lets users order from hundreds of restaurants, convenience and grocery stores, and will deliver your order straight to your door. Whether you need a new phone charger or the spiciest chicken wings around, Postmates is there for you.

 

TheRealReal offers owners of luxury products the opportunity to extend their products’ life through a consignment platform that streamlines the purchasing, selling and consigning process. The company features both brick-and-mortar retail locations and an exceptional online platform that features men's and women’s clothing along with jewelry, watches and more, all authenticated by a team of expert gemologists, horologists and brand authenticators.

 

Wish is a shopping application supporting hundreds of thousands of merchants and millions of shoppers. The e-commerce platform provides a large variety of products and a personalized shopping experience.

 

runchyroll is the world’s largest video service provider for Japanese animated content, like anime and manga. Crunchyroll has offices in San Francisco and Tokyo, and can be found on platforms on iPhone, iPad and across most gaming consoles.

 

Faire is an online wholesale marketplace designed for boutique retailers in a variety of categories like women’s apparel, jewelry, home decor, kids and more. Faire allows local businesses to find unique items to stock while providing local makers with exposure to wider customer bases.

 

Grove Collaborative is a home-delivery service that sends natural home, personal care and beauty products to members’ doors. Grove is an auto-replenishment service so members can choose how often they receive their products, ensuring they’re always well stocked on household goods.

 

Affirm is a payment platform providing consumers with a more transparent way to buy items with a high price tag. Affirm provides the total amount upfront, enabling users to choose a payment schedule that works best with their budget. Affirm allows buyers to take a trip or buy that new couch without taking on credit card debt.

 

Good Eggs is a grocery delivery and meal kit service based solely in the Bay Area. In addition to providing nutritious meals and food for the week, Good Eggs provides recipes and how-to's for the kitchen.

 

Wix has been a pioneer in the website design space for years, making it easy for everyone from small business owners to creative minds to start the website that sends their online presence skyrocketing. Options include a powerful e-commerce platform with online storefront, ordering, fulfillment, dropshipping, memberships, online payments and additional capabilities, making it possible to get stores up and running in a matter of hours.

 

Fanatics helps fans across sports show off their favorite teams with pride, offering access to thousands of pieces of authentic team gear for any style. In addition to providing products from major sports leagues like the MLB and NFL, Fanatics also offers gear from lesser known minor leagues and even Esports teams, with everything from jerseys to caps available along with a lengthy return policy and rewards earning capabilities.

 

Returnly is a system that assists brands in delivering a streamlined product return system to their customers. By making the credit return process quicker and allowing for immediate use of return credits, Returnly helps companies maintain customer loyalty and continue to drive, rather than lose, sales.

 

Square is an e-commerce tool helping businesses streamline point-of-sale and business operations processes. From employee payment and real-time sales reports to payment processing and free online stores, Square offers tools to help retailers grow.

 

Expedia Group is a data-driven, web-based travel booking and price comparison company for those looking to book flights and plan travel itineraries. The company provides users a one-stop platform for exploring hotel, airline, car rental and activities options when planning a trip. Expedia also provides a price aggregation tool for users to compare and contrast costs to find the best deal on airfare or stays.

 

Minted is a design marketplace where independent artists sell stationary, home goods, art, digital products and more. The platform enables artists to gain more exposure while providing consumers with creative goods.

 

ThirdLove is a direct-to-consumer bra and underwear brand creating comfortable garments based on the measurements of millions of women. With a wide range of styles and sizes, ThirdLove offers a Fit Finder Quiz and Try Before You Buy program to ensure their customers find the most comfortable fit.

 

Allbirds makes shoes that are comfortable, simple in design and easy on the environment. Made from wool, tree fibers and sugarcane, Allbirds is all about sustainable materials; even their shoe boxes are made from 90% post-consumer recycled cardboard.

 

Chewse provides companies and organizations with family-style office meals from local restaurants. Companies provide food preferences and a Chewse team member plans a customized meal schedule, sets up, serves and cleans up each meal.

 

Le Tote is a fashion subscription service that allows users to rent, wear and return women’s apparel and accessories. Only requiring a flat monthly membership fee, Le Tote makes diverse wardrobes more affordable.

 

Stitch Fix is a personal styling service for men, women and kids. The service provides personalized clothing choices based on individual preferences that are sent straight to the shopper’s door. Each item is hand selected by a personal stylist and shoppers keep what they like and send the rest back.

 

ThredUP is an online resale marketplace for women, kids, juniors and maternity apparel. ThredUP sends users “clean out kits” as a way to rid closets of unwanted clothing for either resale or donation, offers users cash or credit for their items and provides an online marketplace to buy secondhand items all in one place.