Launch news: Fantasy Shopper

User testimonials:
“It’s amazing and addictive and my new favourite thing.” (link)
“I actually LOVE Fantasy Shopper.” (link)
“Hi, my name is Rachel and I’m a Fantasy Shopper addict.” (link)
“I think fantasyshopper.com might be similar to what happens in very good dreams.” (link)

Fantasy Shopper is a social shopping game and a fashion discovery platform rolled into a compelling user experience. The startup, based in Exeter, UK, launched to the UK audience last week’s Tuesday after extensive closed beta-testing during which they polished the customer experience. 

On Fantasy Shopper, players use Fantasy Money to create outfits and stock up their virtual wardrobes, all with real-world clothing and accessories from real retailers. There are badges to be won, events to create outfits for and friends to help in picking the right styles, and all the while the hourly Paydays keep replenishing the Fantasy Money account of the players. At launch, there were over 100,000 items in the shops included by Fantasy Shopper. Since launch, users have already spent £2.5m on Fantasy Shopping, attesting to the traction of the completely new experience provided by Fantasy Shopper.

“Fantasy Shopper is not a social game with e-commerce bolted on to generate revenue, nor is it an e-commerce site with social or gamification layers added on to increase engagement,” says CEO and co-founder Chris Prescott. “Fantasy Shopper centralises, socialises and gamifies online shopping and has each of these three elements tightly woven into its DNA to create a unique and highly addictive user experience”

The launch was covered by TechCrunch, GigaOm, Grazia Daily and numerous other tech and fashion news sources alike. Fantasy Shopper is nominated in The Europas in the Best Social Platform or Networking Startup category, and you can place your vote in the category here.