About the Author

Alexis Maybank and Alexandra Wilkis Wilson cofounded Gilt Groupe with Kevin Ryan, Mike Bryzek and Phong Nguyen. Previously, Maybank had launched eBay Canada and eBay Motors; Wilson had worked for Merrill Lynch, Louis Vuitton, and Bulgari. Both have BAs from Harvard College and MBAs from Harvard Business School. They live in Manhattan with their husbands and children.

Visit www.gilt.comFollow Alexis on Twitter: @GiltFounderFollow Alexandra on Twitter: @GiltAlexandra

Reviews

"By Invitation Only" is destined to be acknowledged as a classic in many realms: retail innovation, business partnership, partnerships and relationships, creative destruction, and business strategy. This extraordinary book deserves the widest of readership by everyone interested in retail, entrepreneurship, innovation, strategy and, of course, getting a good deal. New York Journal of Books
"Alexis and Alexandra have created something original and amazing, and they did it in the simplest way possible. They found something they loved, and they figured out how to bring it to the massive amount of people they knew would love it too." Mark Cuban, serial entrepreneur and owner of the Dallas Mavericks

"By Invitation Only" is a must read for aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators who will be inspired by their journey and how passion, purpose and partnership fueled a revolution in shopping! Mindy Grossman, CEO of HSN, Inc
A fantastic adventure of entrepreneurship and girl power. Buy it, read it, enjoy it. You will certainly learn from it. Robert Polet, former CEO of Gucci Group
"Gilt Groupe has forever changed the landscape of e-commerce. Not since eBay has there been such a revolution in the way we shop. Alexis and Alexandra redefined the way we approach luxury." Nina Garcia, author and fashion director
"By Invitation Onlyis a brilliantly written book because its authors, who were friends before they were business partners, respected each other's ability to cultivate relationships, take calculated risks, and execute their game-changing, visionary ideas. The key takeaway is that one needs to have an entrepreneurial spirit and indomitable will to succeed, no matter what career path you choose!"
Janet Hanson, Founder & CEO, 85 Broads
Alexis and Alexandra are the ultimate entrepreneurs, having combined their love of fashion with the evolution of technology. They changed the way millions of people shop and have inspired others to follow in their footsteps. This book gives valuable insight into starting and building a business from the ground up based on one good idea. It s a must-read for anyone who has a dream and entrepreneurial spirit. Bobbi Brown
"An exciting story about an exciting start-up.Alexis and Alexandra saw a fantastic opportunity in the luxury space and took it." Tony Hsieh, bestselling author of Delivering Happiness, CEO of Zappos.com
"First, Gilt Groupe s co-founders changed the way we shop by recreating the excitement of a sample sale online. Now, with By Invitation Only, they ve let us in on their innovative creative process. Anyone who hopes to understand the world of tech entrepreneurship -- or upend it -- would be wise to read it." Arianna Huffington, President and Editor In Chief, Huffington Post Media Group
The story reads as a how-to manual for any entrepreneur looking to start something big and disruptive. --Xconomy.com"

"An exciting story about an exciting start-up. Alexis and Alexandra saw a fantastic opportunity in the luxury space and took it."
---Tony Hsieh, bestselling author of Delivering Happiness, CEO of Zappos.com
""By Invitation Only" is destined to be acknowledged as a classic in many realms: retail innovation, business partnership, partnerships and relationships, creative destruction, and business strategy. This extraordinary book deserves the widest of readership by everyone interested in retail, entrepreneurship, innovation, strategy--and, of course, getting a good deal." --New York Journal of Books


"Gilt Groupe has forever changed the landscape of e-commerce. Not since eBay has there been such a revolution in the way we shop. Alexis and Alexandra redefined the way we approach luxury."
---Nina Garcia, author and fashion director
"The story reads as a how-to manual for any entrepreneur looking to start something big and disruptive." --Xconomy.com

"By Invitation Only is a brilliantly written book because its authors, who were friends before they were business partners, respected each other's ability to cultivate relationships, take calculated risks, and execute their game-changing, visionary ideas. The key takeaway is that one needs to have an entrepreneurial spirit and indomitable will to succeed, no matter what career path you choose!"
---Janet Hanson, Founder & CEO, 85 Broads
""By Invitation Only" is a must read for aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators who will be inspired by their journey and how passion, purpose and partnership fueled a revolution in shopping!"
---Mindy Grossman, CEO of HSN, Inc
"A fantastic adventure of entrepreneurship and girl power. Buy it, read it, enjoy it. You will certainly learn from it."
---Robert Polet, former CEO of Gucci Group
"Alexis and Alexandra are the ultimate entrepreneurs, having combined their love of fashion with the evolution of technology. They changed the way millions of people shop and have inspired others to follow in their footsteps. This book gives valuable insight into starting and building a business from the ground up based on one good idea. It's a must-read for anyone who has a dream and entrepreneurial spirit."
---Bobbi Brown
"First, Gilt Groupe's co-founders changed the way we shop by recreating the excitement of a sample sale online. Now, with "By Invitation Only," they've let us in on their innovative creative process. Anyone who hopes to understand the world of tech entrepreneurship -- or upend it -- would be wise to read it."
---Arianna Huffington, President and Editor In Chief, Huffington Post Media Group