What Kledingbank Maxima does

Kledingbank Maxima (legal entity Stichting Kledingbank Maxima) is a Dutch charitable foundation operating a network of seven clothing banks across the province of Groningen, Netherlands, with its main location in Sappemeer. Founded in September 2012, the organisation distributes free seasonal clothing to residents whose income is at or below 115-120% of the welfare level, plus welfare, Wajong, and long-term benefit recipients. Operating seasonally (spring/summer March-June, fall/winter September-January), each location functions as a "fashion store without a cash register" with fitting rooms, providing a dignified retail experience for clients referred by a network of social-service partners including Humanitas, Maatschappelijk Werk, Voedselbank, and Stichting Leergeld.

The organisation is entirely volunteer-run with approximately 240-250 unpaid volunteers across all locations and no paid staff. Operations are funded by municipal subsidies (covering annual rent and energy costs at each location), ANBI-status tax-deductible donations from individuals and corporations, and grants from foundations such as Oranje Fonds, Kansfonds, Provincie Groningen, Armoedefonds, and SCI Groningen. Beyond core clothing distribution, the foundation operates the Dress for Success Groningen sub-brand (professional interview attire and styling for job seekers, reporting a 64% post-interview employment rate), baby boxes for new parents, a bus service for rural clients, menstrual products to address period poverty, and a bridal dress collection. Approximately 150,000-200,000 kg of clothing receive a second life annually, with an estimated 550,000 kg of CO2 emissions avoided per year.

The technical infrastructure is intentionally minimal: a content website at kledingbankmaxima.nl with location-specific subdomains, per-location Facebook pages, an Instagram presence, and standard Google Analytics for visitor tracking. There are no proprietary technology platforms, AI/ML capabilities, mobile applications, or APIs. The competitive position rests on a province-wide physical distribution footprint, deep institutional partnerships, ANBI tax status, a recognised brand (including royal attention and national sustainability rankings), and the structural cost advantages of an all-volunteer operating model that would be difficult for a commercial enterprise to replicate.

Name

Kledingbank Maxima

Legal name

Stichting Kledingbank Maxima

Website

https://kledingbankmaxima.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kledingbank Maxima is a volunteer-run Dutch charitable foundation operating seven free clothing banks across Groningen province, serving welfare recipients and low-income residents with seasonal clothing, Dress for Success interview attire, and support modules, funded by municipal subsidies, donations, and foundation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sappemeer (Midden-Groningen)

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Subsidies: Municipalities subsidize the annual rent and energy costs of all Maxima locations. This is the primary operational funding source that enables the charity to operate without charging customers.
2. Donations and Grants: Financial donations from individuals, foundations, and organizations. The organization has ANBI status making donations tax-deductible. Multiple foundations provide grants for specific purposes such as children's clothing projects.
3. Sale of Rejected Clothing: Clothing that is not suitable for the shop (damaged, worn) is sold to textile processing companies, generating small revenue streams.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kledingbank Maxima operates a network of seven physical 'fashion stores without cash registers' across Groningen province (Netherlands), distributing donated and surplus clothing, shoes, and accessories free of charge to individuals with incomes up to 115-120% of the welfare level. Clients can shop twice per year during seasonal collection periods (spring/summer and fall/winter), with each visit typically yielding ten clothing items and one pair of shoes. The offering is complemented by Dress for Success Groningen, which provides free professional attire and interview preparation to job seekers.

Product overview

Kledingbank Maxima is a network of clothing banks operating across Groningen province, Netherlands, functioning as 'fashion stores without cash registers.' The core product is free clothing distribution to people with low incomes (approximately 110-120% of welfare level). The organization operates seven shop-in-shop locations under a unified concept, offering seasonal clothing collections (spring/summer March-June, fall/winter September-January). Supporting modules include Dress for Success (professional interview attire), Baby Boxes for new parents, a bus service for remote-area customers, menstrual products for poverty relief, and a bridal dress collection. All services are delivered by volunteers with no paid staff.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dress for Success Groningen: A separate shop within Kledingbank Maxima where people with a minimum income who have an invitation for a job interview can receive free appropriate clothing. It is part of an international network to support people toward work and economic independence.

Products and services

• Kledingbank Maxima Clothing Bank Network A network of seven physical 'fashion stores without cash registers' across Groningen province (Netherlands) that distribute donated and surplus clothing, shoes, and accessories free of charge to low-income individuals (up to 115-120% of welfare level). Clients shop twice per year during seasonal collection periods (spring/summer March-June; fall/winter September-January), typically receiving 10 clothing items and one pair of shoes per visit, with fitting rooms and a respectful volunteer reception.
• Dress for Success Groningen A specialized sub-brand operated within Kledingbank Maxima that provides free professional outfits, styling advice, and interview preparation to job seekers with minimum income who have received an interview invitation (internship, re-integration, or paid employment). Part of the international Dress for Success network; 64% of clients successfully obtain employment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 64% of Dress for Success clients successfully obtain employment after receiving interview clothing assistance
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Gemeente GroningencoreOthersMunicipality provides subsidies covering annual rent and energy costs for Maxima Stad location. Partnership essential for operational sustainability.
• Gemeente Midden-GroningencoreOthersMunicipality provides subsidies covering annual rent and energy costs for Maxima Sappemeer location.
• Gemeente EemsdeltacoreOthersMunicipality provides subsidies covering annual rent and energy costs for Maxima Appingedam location.
• Voedselbank GroningencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose collaboration between Voedselbank and Maxima Stad to provide households with free groceries and clothing. Voedselbank clients receive referrals to Maxima.
• Voedselbank Midden-GroningencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partnership for clients to access Maxima clothing services.
• HumanitascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial organization that provides referral letters for clients with income up to 115% of welfare level to access Maxima services.
• Maatschappelijk Werk / Kwartier Zorg en WelzijncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial work organization providing referral letters for clients to access Maxima clothing services.
• Stichting LeergeldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting children from low-income families, refers clients to Maxima for clothing assistance.
• WeHelpen Midden-GroningensupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides transportation assistance for clients who cannot travel independently to Maxima locations.
• FC GroningensupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFootball club provides annual stadium tours for children in groups 5-8 who visit Maxima, offering special experiences for children from low-income families.
• Dress for SuccesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaxima houses Dress for Success services for clients with job interview invitations. Provides free professional clothing and styling advice. 64% success rate for clients obtaining employment.
• Profeel MamacaresupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialty store in Glimmen provides new bras and swimwear for women with breast prosthetics through Maxima locations.
• Keen FootwearsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOutdoor footwear company donates shoes to Maxima locations.
• Gemeente Groningen (for Dress for Success)coreOthersMunicipality covers housing costs for Dress for Success Groningen at Nieuwe Ebbingestraat 57, recognizing the value for job seekers.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Voedselbank Groningen: Partner food bank in Groningen providing free groceries to low-income households and a key referral source for Maxima clients. Comparable as a charity addressing poverty through in-kind goods distribution with volunteer operations and municipal support.
• Dress for Success Worldwide: Global nonprofit providing professional attire and career development to job seekers, with Kledingbank Maxima housing Dress for Success Groningen since 2017. Directly comparable in the interview-clothing service model and 64% employment outcome metric.
• Leger des Heils ReShare: Netherlands-based charity thrift operation of the Salvation Army collecting and redistributing second-hand clothing, operating reusable clothing stores serving low-income individuals. Closely comparable in charity clothing redistribution model and reliance on volunteers and donations.
• Kledingbank Limburg: Dutch provincial clothing bank providing free clothing to those in financial need in Limburg. Directly comparable as a peer Dutch clothing bank with the same charity model, volunteer base, and social referral partnerships.
• Stichting Leergeld: National Dutch foundation supporting children from low-income families, a key Maxima referral partner. Comparable in addressing child poverty through in-kind support and local volunteer networks across Dutch municipalities.
• Emmaus Nederland: Dutch branch of international Emmaus movement operating community-based second-hand shops with volunteer integration programs. Comparable in charity second-hand retail and use of community living/working arrangements for volunteers including vulnerable populations.

Broad incumbents

• Sympany: Larger Dutch textile reuse organization collecting clothing via containers and stores across the country for resale and recycling. Comparable in the volume second-hand clothing collection and sorting model, though Sympany operates nationally and uses paid retail rather than free distribution.
• Het Goed: Largest second-hand chain in the Netherlands with multiple thrift stores across the country, accepting donated clothing and goods for resale. Comparable in charity-adjacent second-hand clothing retail, though Het Goed operates on a paid retail model rather than free distribution.

Regional players

• Het Groene Kruis (Stichting Humanitas): Dutch social welfare organization providing community support services including referral letters for Maxima access. Comparable as a regional Dutch social services network intersecting with Maxima's referral ecosystem for low-income clients.

Emerging players

• Stichting Babyspullen: Dutch nonprofit providing baby clothing and care items to families in financial need, listed as a Maxima partner. Comparable in the charity-bundle model for vulnerable families and overlap in baby-box-style support offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/delfzijl.kledingbankmaxima
• Instagraminstagram.com/p/CsongpJtdVV/?igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kledingbank-maxima

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Kledingbank Maxima