Fab raises $105M | Hacker News Reader

Fab raises $105M

online.wsj.com

38 pointssahillavingia17 comments

Google referral to get around paywall: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&#...

Fab is all about design, from their products to website to ios apps. Their stuff is really not cheap, when you factor in their shipping costs its especially not cheap. I was going to purchase a pair of touchscreen gloves from them, but I realized after shipping I was only saving a few dollars from the original manufacturers in NYC (including their shipping cost). I decided to go straight with the manufacturer, which was a small startup, so they could save on the cut they'd likely have given to fab. But on the flip side, there are some interesting products on fab that I would never have known about otherwise.

I've bought about 10 things off fab.com since they've launched... As you mentioned, the stuff isn't highly discounted, but the way I look at it is that it's a very nicely curated collection of cool shit I would never have found on my own, plus it is discounted slightly (generally like 10-20% or so). 37 Signals has always talked about curating and I think there's a lot of value in it.

On a side note, their site is a killer on memory... As someone who digs browsing through and cmd-clicking things I'm interested in to check out later, this site ruins my computer (top of line macbook air).

Considering how many times the paragraph says "design" I would have expected their 'about' page to be a lot more readable: http://fab.com/about-fab/

There is also the small issue of the about page not telling me any about the company. I tried reading the wsj article but got paywall'd, so I went to the only place on the internet that is supposed to be guaranteed to give me information on the company. Yet said page contains no information on the company. What does this company do, and why are they hiding behind marketing non-speak?

Yeah, that really is bad. I got into the beta (I think it was a beta?) that they did, it's basically a fancy shopping site.

Searching site:fab.com on google seems to let you see more behind the scenes. As far as I can tell it seems to be the MOMA store crossed with tumblr.

Seriously? Some people in this thread are dissing Fab as "Groupon for hipsters." If you don't know about Fab that's your fault.

They are on track to top $100 million in sales. Just because they're not in the valley doesn't mean you have to hate.

hipster =p

I looked at the blurb from the article and checked their site. I'm not really sure what they do. My best guess is that it is Groupon for hipsters.

AFAIK, Fab is more like a Gilt than a Groupon.

Closer to One Kings Lane for hipsters.

I've heard rumours the principle investor is a retired astronaut/industrialist who lives on an island in the South Pacific. Apparently there were some strings attached though...

nonsense.

F-A-B!

The paywall works! got me curious so I signed up. Nothing much to see there. Just a site that sells stuff that people who drives Scions and ride fixe bikes would like.

Huh -- I thought fabs cost billions these days. Particularly those making flash.

(ducks)

This is a joke right?

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