Our Story

April 2020

In early April 2020, industrial design student Christian Pittner founded an online marketplace for startup products called "SHÖPY". With strategic support from SUNNYBAG founder Stefan Ponsold, and e-commerce expert Thomas Leskowsky, SHÖPY quickly grew into the largest marketplace for startup products in the German-speaking region of Europe, attracting attention from the media as well as several e-commerce companies. At the beginning of 2021, the young, motivated team began looking for a partner to establish SHÖPY throughout Europe, partnering with the Austrian e-commerce experts, niceshops GmbH.

SHÖPY merges with niceshops

Five months later, niceshops and Christian Pittner (pictured above on the left) relaunched SHÖPY under the name "42things". Carrying products from 150 startups from 11 countries, "42things" is the largest European e-commerce store for startup products. The partnership is beneficial for startup brands, as it ensures they can focus on developing their products, while niceshops takes care of fulfilment. Customers can find the hottest new startup products conveniently in-stock and on one platform.

To quote niceshops CEO Christoph Schreiner (pictured above on the right): “Startups often cause a sensation on the market with ingenious ideas, but very quickly reach their logistical and financial limits. We bring our entire e-commerce know-how to our cooperation, from software development and marketing to logistics and support, relieving our partners of these growing pains.”

Niceshops' acquisition of 42things has proven to be extremely successful. Since the acquisition, the online store has expanded its selection to include over 230 brands from 22 countries; an impressive display of the diversity and creativity of the European startup scene.

Having achieved his goal of building Europe's largest online store for startup products with 42things, founder Christian Pittner has plans to begin working on a new startup company as of November 2023. Despite his departure, 42things will continue to be a driving force for innovation and creativity, offering startup companies a unique platform to showcase and sell their products.