Rebuy acquires Zeercle to add physical retail buy‑back channel

Berlin‑based re‑commerce platform rebuy has bought German start‑up Zeercle, which provides a digital buy‑back solution for book retailers. The acquisition is expected to generate an additional annual revenue in the low double‑digit‑million‑euro range and gives rebuy its first channel for collecting used items in physical stores.

Through Zeercle, customers can scan an ISBN or barcode, receive an instant price offer and drop the item off at a participating shop, receiving a voucher in return. The service is already integrated with the Hugendubel book‑store chain, covering books, CDs, DVDs, vinyl and games, and may later expand to smartphones and other electronics. CEO Philipp Gattner said the deal “adds a proven model for stationary retail and gives us access to strong partners in Europe.” The transaction also brings in the buy‑back businesses of Italy’s Mondadori, France’s Cultura and the Dutch provider Bruna, supporting rebuy’s broader internationalisation plans.