memo

What memo does

memo AG, founded in 1990 and headquartered in Greußenheim, Bavaria, is a privately held German multi-channel e-commerce retailer specializing in curated sustainable everyday products. The company operates the memo.de online shop (with the consolidated former memolife.de B2C storefront), a dedicated B2B promotional merchandise storefront (memo-promotion.de), and serves approximately 84% of revenue from business customers (including over 3,000 educational institutions, resellers, and organizations) and ~16% from private consumers across more than 20,000 articles from 450+ brands. Roughly 40% of the assortment carries recognized environmental labels such as Blauer Engel, GOTS, FSC, Fairtrade, EU Ecolabel, and Grüner Knopf.

The technology stack is built around a proprietary Product Information Management (PIM) system integrated with online and print media design software, an AI-assisted automated text generation pipeline for product and sustainability content, and a 15+ year-old reusable memo Box multi-use shipping system paired with the Wertstoff-Box take-back program. Operations are highly automated: approximately 95% of orders arrive online or via email and 76% are processed automatically, supported by self-hosted Matomo analytics, Trusted Shops verified reviews, Awin affiliate distribution, and Eye-Able accessibility tooling. Distribution relies on DHL/GOGREEN logistics, with the company holding ISO-style process discipline (e.g., a 0.5% return rate against a ~24% German e-commerce average).

memo's revenue model is direct e-commerce product sales supplemented by an affiliate referral channel offering up to 8% commission to Awin partners. B2C prices include VAT with B2B pricing available for commercial customers; the company layers discount programs (Studirabatt student discount), a memo friends membership loyalty program, and seasonal sales. The business is bootstrapped, owned by multiple individuals (Ulrike Wolf, Frank Schmähling, Richard Wolf, Jürgen Schmidt) plus an employee participation vehicle, with no venture capital or private equity backing. Recognition includes the German Sustainability Prize 2025 (Products) and 2026 (Consumer Goods/Wholesale), reflecting a corporate identity anchored in environmental and social criteria rather than price-led competition.

Name

memo

Legal name

memo AG

Website

https://memo.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

memo AG is a privately held German multi-channel e-commerce retailer offering over 20,000 curated sustainable products across office, household, clothing, food, and promotional categories to private consumers (~16%) and over 3,000 institutional and commercial B2B customers (~84%).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable E-commerce Retail

NAICS

Office Supplies and Stationery Retailers (459410), Office Supplies, Stationery, and Gift Retailers (4594)

SIC

Wholesale-Paper & Paper Products (5110)

akta.pro primary industry

Office, Stationery & Craft Supplies DTC (CRAFACAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Stationery & Office Paper Products (notebooks, pads, forms) (IMAMAHAG)

Keywords

• Sustainable office supplies
• Eco-friendly consumer goods
• Green e-commerce retail
• Sustainable promotional merchandise
• Corporate sustainable procurement

Headquarters

HQ city

Greußenheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations

Revenue model

1. E-commerce product sales (B2C & B2B): Core revenue from direct online sales of sustainable products across categories including office supplies, clothing, furniture, food, household goods, garden, and promotional items. Private customers (B2C) and business customers, resellers, and organizations (B2B) are both served. Approximately 84% of revenue comes from B2B commercial customers and ~16% from private customers. ~20,000+ articles from 450+ brands.
2. Affiliate Partner Program: memo operates an affiliate partnership program via Awin platform, offering up to 8% commission on net sales revenue to affiliate partners who promote ecological products on their websites, blogs, or social media.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

memo AG operates a sustainable multi-channel e-commerce platform (memo.de) selling over 20,000 curated articles from 450+ brands across office supplies, clothing, natural cosmetics, furniture, food, household goods, garden, and promotional items, serving both private consumers (B2C) and commercial customers, resellers, and organizations (B2B). The offering is complemented by a private label brand (memo Eigenmarke), a proprietary reusable memo Box shipping system, a memo Wertstoff-Box product take-back and recycling program, and AI-powered product information management that automatically generates sustainability content.

Product overview

memo AG operates a multi-channel e-commerce platform (memo.de, memo-promotion.de) offering over 20,000 sustainable articles across categories including paper, school & office supplies, clothing & natural cosmetics, furniture & home goods, food, household & kitchen, garden & workshop, and promotional articles. The company complements its broad marketplace with a private label brand (memo Eigenmarke) spanning paper products, office supplies, ink & toner, school supplies, cleaning & hygiene products, textiles, and food. Additional services include the reusable memo Box shipping system, the memo Wertstoff-Box product take-back and recycling program, memo friends loyalty membership, and student discount program. The platform serves private customers, business customers, resellers, and organizations, with approximately 84% of revenue coming from business customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• memo Eigenmarke: memo's own private label brand offering environmentally and socially compatible products including paper products, office supplies, ink and toner, school supplies, cleaning and hygiene products, textiles, and food items.

Products and services

• memo Online Shop (memo.de) E-commerce platform offering over 20,000 sustainable articles across categories including paper, school and office supplies, clothing and natural cosmetics, furniture and home goods, food, household and kitchen, garden and workshop, and promotional items. Targets private customers, business customers, resellers, and organizations in Germany and the DACH region.
• memo-promotion.de (Corporate Promotional Merchandise Shop)

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% of returned articles can be reintroduced for sale
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweitcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025memo AG collaborates with SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit (one of the most experienced children's rights organizations) on a product line where a portion of revenue flows directly into the 'Eco Champions' climate initiative supporting young people in countries including Namibia, Nigeria, Jordan, Somalia, Sierra Leone, and Uganda.
• AwincoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Awin affiliate platform provides memo's affiliate partner infrastructure. Partners receive their own recommendation ID and access to promotional materials through the platform.
• Trusted ShopscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Trusted Shops provides customer review verification services, sending automated review invitations after order completion and ensuring only genuine customers who purchased products can leave reviews.
• DHL / Deutsche Post (GOGREEN)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025DHL serves as memo's primary logistics partner. DHL's GOGREEN initiative calculates and offsets CO2e emissions from transport by supporting international environmental protection projects.
• skate-aidminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Cooperation product 'Rollen für die Zukunft' (Rollers for the Future) featuring toilet paper made from 100% recycled cardboard with the Blauer Engel label. Each sold package supports the skate-aid mission. Distributed primarily via memo resale channel and found in German organic retail.
• Rat für Nachhaltige Entwicklung (RNE) / Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitskodex (DNK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024memo AG submitted its Declaration of Conformity with the German Sustainability Code (DNK) for the fifth time in 2024. Listed as a best-practice example and lighthouse of sustainable business in the study 'Stand nachhaltigen Wirtschaftens in Deutschland' by RNE at TU Dresden.
• youngcaritas + memo AGminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaborative youth magazine 'RE:NEW' created with youngcaritas Germany and Württemberg on the topic of sustainable fashion, following the '5 R' principle: Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle, and Rethink. Involves young volunteers, youngcaritas staff, and memo AG trainees.
• Innoredux (Forschungsprojekt)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021memo AG participates as a practice partner in the Innoredux research project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). In a real laboratory in Heidelberg, innovative packaging solutions for distance and stationary retail are being developed to reduce plastic waste along the value chain.
• Landesbund für Vogelschutz (LBV) e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnership since 2018 with the State Association for Bird Protection. LBV also conducts environmental education and Education for Sustainable Development. Joint activities include nature hikes for memo employees.
• bevh (Bundesverband E-Commerce und Versandhandel Deutschland e.V.)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013memo AG has been a member since 2013. bevh is the key association for e-commerce in Germany, representing interests of all trading companies using e-commerce. Provides working groups on sustainability, logistics, marketing, and law.
• Umwelt- und Klimapakt BayernminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Voluntary agreement between the Bavarian state government and Bavarian business for environmental protection. memo AG has been a member since 2004.
• Bundesverband Nachhaltige Wirtschaft (BNW) e.V. (formerly UnternehmensGrün)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1992Joined in 1992 as UnternehmensGrün, now BNW since March 2021. Both organizations work together to promote environmental and climate protection and ecological, social, and innovative business practices. BNW aims to be the political voice of sustainable business.
• B.A.U.M. e.V. (Bundesdeutscher Arbeitskreis für Umweltbewusstes Management)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1990memo AG has been a member for over 20 years. B.A.U.M. is Europe's largest environmental initiative for businesses, communities, and organizations, promoting precautionary environmental protection and sustainable business practices.
• Forum Ökologie & Papier (FÖP)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1990Paper experts' association promoting conscious handling and significantly reduced paper consumption. Goals include higher use of recycled paper and strengthening demand for Blue Angel recycled paper.
• Initiative Pro Recyclingpapier (IPR)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1990memo AG is a founding member of this cross-industry initiative supporting information campaigns and public actions for acceptance and promotion of recycled paper use.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Avocadostore: German sustainable online marketplace curating certified eco-friendly products across lifestyle categories. Closely comparable to memo on multi-category sustainable DTC e-commerce, B2C focus, and curation-led value proposition, though with weaker B2B orientation.
• Waschbär: German sustainable e-commerce retailer focused on natural clothing, household, and lifestyle products. Comparable to memo on DTC sustainable commerce, multi-category assortment, and strong environmental certification focus.
• Greenpicks: German sustainable online marketplace aggregating eco-certified brands across multiple categories. Comparable to memo as a curated sustainable marketplace, though smaller in scale and assortment depth.
• Manufactum: German retailer of high-quality, sustainably produced everyday goods, combining catalog heritage with online retail. Directly comparable to memo in curated sustainable assortment breadth, multi-decade brand history, and ethical sourcing emphasis.

Broad incumbents

• Lyreco: European B2B workplace and office-supplies distributor serving large organizations. Comparable to memo on B2B office-supply distribution and recurring procurement relationships, with broader scale but no sustainability-pure-play focus.
• Tchibo: Major German retailer operating rotating-assortment stores plus online, with growing sustainability positioning and its own 'Tchibo Share' program. Comparable to memo on German multi-channel retail scale and lifestyle breadth, though not sustainability-pure-play.
• Otto Group: Germany's largest multi-category e-commerce group, offering broad lifestyle assortments including sustainability-labeled lines. A broad incumbent comparable to memo on multi-channel e-commerce scale and German retail footprint, though without memo's exclusive sustainability curation.
• Office Depot / Staples: Global office-supplies retailer with European B2B/B2C operations. Comparable to memo on office-supply category focus and B2B procurement channels, but lacks memo's sustainability curation and circular packaging.

Others

• RePack: Provider of reusable e-commerce shipping packaging as a service to retailers. Comparable to memo as a competing/thematically adjacent reusable packaging solution relevant to the memo Box system.
• memo Box / Limifit: Provider of reusable shipping and packaging systems for e-commerce in the DACH region. Directly comparable infrastructure to memo's memo Box, addressing the same circular-logistics opportunity.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/memo.de.shop
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/memoag
• Instagraminstagram.com/memo.de_shop

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about memo