Lumo · Founder updates

{ "title": "What We Shipped in January (and What's Coming Next)", "excerpt": "We cut our commission to 10%, launched escrow with auto-release, opened up same-day delivery for everyone, and built an AI ad studio. Here's what's new on Lumo—and why we're just getting started.", "body_md": "# What We Shipped in January (and What's Coming Next)\n\nHey everyone,\n\nWe've been heads-down building this month, and I wanted to pull up for air and share what's new on Lumo. No fluff—just what we shipped, what we learned, and where we're headed.\n\n## We Cut Our Commission to 10%\n\nLet's start with the big one. After running the numbers (and honestly, after listening to a lot of frustrated sellers), we dropped our take rate from 15% to 10% across the board.\n\nWhy? Because we think marketplaces win when sellers win. A lot of platforms treat their commission like a tax. We treat it like rent—and we want to keep that rent as low as possible while still keeping the lights on. Ten percent feels fair. It's enough for us to invest in tools, support, and security. It's low enough that you're not subsidizing our growth at your expense.\n\nThis applies to gigs, deliveries, real estate listings, auto sales—everything. Flat 10%. Done.\n\n## Escrow with 24-Hour Auto-Release\n\nTrust is hard to build and easy to break. So we rolled out escrow for all transactions. When a buyer pays, we hold the funds until the job's done or the item's delivered. Once the buyer confirms (or 24 hours pass with no dispute), the money auto-releases to your bank account.\n\nNo more "I'll pay you after" awkwardness. No more ghosting. No more he-said-she-said. The system just works, and both sides are protected.\n\nWe've already seen this cut disputes by more than half. Turns out when people know the money's locked in and fair, everyone relaxes a little.\n\n## Same-Day Delivery from Anyone\n\nThis one's been in beta for a while, but it's now live for everyone. You can offer same-day delivery whether you're a restaurant, a boutique, a big-box retailer, or just someone cleaning out their garage.\n\nWe built a lightweight dispatch system that pairs orders with local drivers in real time. You list it, someone buys it, a driver picks it up, and it's at their door in hours. No fleet to manage. No logistics nightmares. Just a checkbox that says "same-day delivery available."\n\nWe're not trying to out-Amazon Amazon. We're just trying to make it stupid-simple for local sellers to compete on convenience.\n\n## Stripe Bank Payouts\n\nMoney should move fast. We integrated Stripe payouts so you can get paid directly to your bank account—no third-party wallets, no waiting a week, no weird fees. Funds hit your account within 1–2 business days after release. That's it.\n\n## Real Estate + Autos Are Now Live\n\nWe quietly opened two new verticals: real estate and autos. List a house, an apartment, a car, a truck—whatever. Same escrow protections, same 10% fee, same tools.\n\nThese categories are still small, but early feedback has been solid. People like having one place to list everything. We'll keep refining based on what you tell us.\n\n## AI-Powered Ad Studio\n\nLast thing: we built an AI ad studio that auto-generates listing photos, headlines, and descriptions. Upload a rough photo, tell it what you're selling, and it cleans up the image and writes copy that actually converts.\n\nIt's not perfect, but it's fast—and it's already helping people who don't have time to fuss with Canva or Photoshop. More on this soon.\n\n## What's Next\n\nWe're working on in-app messaging, better search filters, and a seller dashboard that doesn't make you want to throw your laptop. We're also experimenting with subscription tiers for power users (more on that if it doesn't suck).\n\nAs always, if something's broken or confusing or just annoying, tell us. We're small enough to fix it fast.\n\nThanks for building with us.\n\n—The Lumo Team\n\n*Want to try any of these features?