How DTC eCommerce brand, Linjer, saved more than S$13,000 in FX fees

Today, there are plenty of affordable, high-quality direct-to-consumer fashion brands. But back in 2014, shoppers had only two choices: fast fashion or luxury brands.

That’s when Jennifer Chong and Roman Khan, decided to solve this problem by founding Linjer. They set out to create luxury-quality products without the high markup by selling directly to customers online.

Starting with just US$20,000 in savings and a crowdfunding campaign, they launched their brand. In just 14 months, Linjer hit US$1 million in sales, proving that affordable luxury could resonate with consumers worldwide.

How did Airwallex help Linjer save money and time?

1. Airwallex's affordable foreign exchange rates helped Linjer save over S$13,000 within a few months.

2. By using Airwallex's multi-currency Visa corporate card, they were able to pay global expenses directly from their multi-currency wallet, eliminating unnecessary FX conversion fees.

3. By creating virtual cards for their employees, Linjer enabled them to spend in multiple currencies using virtual cards, physical cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. This streamlined the expense reimbursement process, saving valuable time for Linjer’s CEO.

Challenge: high FX and transfer fees with banks and PayPal

Before switching to Airwallex, Linjer used bank transfers and PayPal to pay their overseas suppliers. However, they faced high foreign exchange fees and expensive international transfer costs. Each bank transfer cost them around S$20 per transaction, while PayPal’s foreign exchange fees were also costly.

For online purchases, Linjer relied on their bank’s credit cards, which charged a 3–4% markup on top of the prevailing exchange rate determined by Visa/MasterCard. To avoid these high fees, employees used their personal credit cards for better FX rates and then filed for expense reimbursements, creating additional administrative work.

Solution: Linjer saved time and S$13,000 in FX fees with Airwallex FX & Transfers and Corporate Cards

Switching to Airwallex allowed Linjer to exchange currencies at market-leading rates and make international transfers at a fraction of the cost compared to bank wires or PayPal. Linjer’s recipients were pleased because they no longer incurred incoming wire fees, which are typically charged when using the SWIFT network.

Linjer also adopted Airwallex’s Corporate Cards for online purchases in any currency, benefiting from zero transaction fees on international payments. This change didn’t just save money – it also simplified the purchasing process, empowering Linjer’s team to make purchases independently.

Jennifer Chong, co-founder of Linjer, shared that using Airwallex’s streamlined payment system allowed her to delegate purchasing duties without the tedious reimbursement process. She emphasised that this efficiency is essential because managing expenses manually is “not how she wants to spend her time.”

Jennifer Chong

CEO of Linjer

"I’m so thankful that Airwallex exists! Airwallex allows me to exchange currencies at really great rates, and the interface is very modern and easy to use compared to my bank. We save so much money with Airwallex. In just a few months, we've already saved more than S$13,000 in unnecessary bank fees!"

What's next for Linjer?

With Airwallex streamlining its global payments, Linjer is well-positioned to funnel the cost savings from reduced conversion fees into scaling its operations globally. Looking ahead, Linjer's partnership with Airwallex is set to help the brand stay agile, cost-efficient, and focused on what it does best – creating timeless, beautifully crafted products for customers worldwide.

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