In this episode of French Insider, Agathe Benoit, Chief Operating Officer and founding team member of Giftory, joins Sheppard Mullin attorneys Karl Buhler and Inès Briand to discuss the company’s business model and the challenges of launching the “experience gifting” concept in the United States.
What We Discussed in This Episode:
- What is Giftory, what are its core offerings, and where does it operate?
- What motivated the company to expand into the corporate gifting and B2B market?
- What challenges have been faced in bringing the experience gifting concept to the U.S.?
- Given the concept of experience gifting is relatively unfamiliar in the U.S., how did you initially connect with providers, engage customers, and assemble a team?
- Does Giftory offer the same experiences across all locations, or do offerings vary by city and state?
- What criteria does the company use when deciding to partner with a provider?
- How does Giftory ensure a premium experience for both the gift giver and the recipient?
- What are the advantages of purchasing through Giftory, rather than directly from the provider?
- What key achievements and challenges stand out in the process of building and expanding the business?
- What advice would you offer others looking to launch a business in the United States?
About Agathe Benoit
Before co-founding Giftory, Agathe Benoit served as Head of Seller Operations at Back Market, the global leader in refurbished technology. There, she led a team of 20, overseeing critical areas such as sales, seller engagement, support, communications, and partnerships. Her leadership was instrumental in strengthening seller relations and achieving operational success. Previously, she spent six years as a Senior Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company, advising clients on complex business challenges and strategic initiatives across multiple industries.
Earlier in their career, Agathe served as Product/Marketing Manager at OMB Labs, Teaching Assistant at Columbia University, Part-time Consultant at PRODIGY NETWORK, and Visiting Student Researcher at the University of California. She also volunteered at ASS INDE ESPOIR.
Agathe was educated at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand, specializing in Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science, before earning an International Baccalaureate from the Centre International de Valbonne. She later attended École Polytechnique, where she earned an Engineering degree in Applied Mathematics. In 2012, she completed a Master of Science in Management Science and Engineering at Columbia University, in collaboration with Columbia Business School.
About Karl Buhler
As an associate with the Corporate and Securities Practice Group and French Desk in Sheppard Mullin’s New York Office, Karl Buhler focuses on domestic and cross-border transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and complex commercial agreements in industries such as technology, communications, life sciences, energy, defense and aerospace. In particular, he advises foreign companies with the installation and development of their operations in the United States.
Born and educated in France, Karl began his legal career in China, practicing corporate law in both Beijing and Hong Kong, with a focus on mergers, acquisitions, and project finance in the energy and infrastructure sectors. He then relocated to Paris, where he continued to focus on corporate transactions, but also expanded his expertise to international arbitrations and litigations arising from contracts and transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint venture, and infrastructure agreements.
Karl moved to New York to further build his corporate experience in cross-border transactions and disputes at a U.S.-based firm, where he worked closely with French companies implanted in the United States.
About Inès Briand
Inès Briand is an associate in Sheppard Mullin’s Corporate Practice Group and French Desk Team in the firm’s Brussels office, where her practice primarily focuses on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisition transactions (with special emphasis on operations involving French companies). She also has significant experience in general corporate matters and compliance for foreign companies settled in the United States.
As a member of the firm’s French Desk, Inès has advised companies and private equity funds in both the United States and Europe on mergers, acquisitions, commercial contracts and general corporate matters, including expansion of French companies in the United States.
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