OrderWithMe

High-Level Overview

OrderWithMe is a technology company that empowers small businesses with inventory management, group buying, and omni-channel retail solutions to compete against larger retailers and e-commerce giants.[1][3][4] It builds platforms like an online group buying system for volume discounts and ShopWithMe, a point-of-sale (POS) service that counters showrooming by enabling in-store inventory access and virtual shopping carts.[1][3][5] Serving small merchants and independent retailers, OrderWithMe solves key pain points such as high inventory costs, stockouts, and the threat of customers browsing in-store but buying online, by aggregating purchases for discounts and turning physical stores into mini-distribution hubs.[3][4]

The company has shown early momentum as a TechCrunch Disrupt winner, launching innovative tools like Inventory-as-a-Service to streamline supply chains and boost brick-and-mortar sales.[2][5]

Origin Story

Founded by Jonathan Jenkins, who serves as CEO, OrderWithMe emerged from Las Vegas to address small retailers' struggles with inventory costs and showrooming—the practice where shoppers use physical stores to browse before purchasing online.[3] The idea crystallized around creating accessible tech for independents, leading to the development of ShopWithMe, which officially launched in early 2015 with POS hardware, consumer touchscreens, mobile apps, and NFC-enabled inventory tracking.[3][5]

A pivotal moment came as a TechCrunch Disrupt winner, validating its on-demand retail platform for brands to deploy turnkey omni-channel stores.[2][5] This early recognition fueled evolution from group buying to comprehensive inventory solutions, helping small businesses aggregate volumes for big discounts.[4]

Core Differentiators

• Inventory Aggregation for Discounts: Pools small businesses' purchasing power to secure volume deals otherwise unavailable to independents, streamlining procurement via a single platform.[1][4][5]
• ShopWithMe POS Innovation: World's first "Inventory-as-a-Service" with 21.5-inch touchscreens, barcode scanners, NFC readers, beacons, and mobile apps for virtual carts—allowing in-store scanning, real-time stock checks, and combined checkouts to combat showrooming.[3][5]
• Omni-Channel Flexibility: Turns stores into mini-distribution centers for self-shipping and network fulfillment, plus on-demand stores for brands in major cities.[2][3]
• Hardware-Software Integration: Includes employee mobile POS, iOS/Android shopper apps, and payment processing, prioritizing ease for small merchants without price matching yet.[3]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

OrderWithMe rides the omni-channel retail trend, bridging brick-and-mortar and digital amid e-commerce dominance, where showrooming erodes 20-30% of small retailer sales (per industry context).[3] Timing aligns with post-2015 mobile POS adoption and supply chain digitization, favoring small businesses as consumer apps and beacons enable seamless in-store experiences.[3][5]

Market forces like rising inventory costs and network effects from aggregated buying amplify its impact, influencing the ecosystem by democratizing tools typically reserved for chains—positioning independents as agile distribution nodes in fragmented retail.[3][4]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

OrderWithMe's trajectory points to expanded network effects, potentially scaling ShopWithMe into a full retailer co-op platform with AI-driven inventory forecasting and deeper e-commerce integrations. Trends like hyper-local fulfillment and AR shopping trials will shape it, evolving influence from niche enabler to key player in resilient small-business retail tech. As group buying matures, it could redefine how independents thrive in an Amazon-dominated world, echoing its origin in turning showrooming into a strength.[3][5]