How Goodwill increased listings and auction revenue with Photoroom

Life before Photoroom

• Staff relied on outdated tools and manual edits, slowing down listings

• Backgrounds were inconsistent, making listings look untidy and unprofessional

• Slow image processing delayed their listing cycles and limited their growth potential

Life with Photoroom

• Team saves hours by batch-editing over 300 images in a single day

• Faster photography workflow means faster listings and more sales

• High-quality, consistent visuals drive better brand recognition and more loyal customers

• Increased revenue fuels new community programs

Helping people comes first, but good photos make it possible

David Bartfeld measures success differently than most e-commerce directors. For him, every sale doesn’t only represent revenue but directly funds life-changing opportunities in his local community. As director of e-commerce for the Goodwill agency at Baltimore, David’s mission is to ensure that online sales support initiatives like Maryland’s first adult high school, where students earn diplomas at no cost.

But before Photoroom, his team’s ambitions were slowed by one problem: slow, inconsistent product photography.

“We strive to achieve three main components of success when creating visuals: Speed, accuracy, and quality. Photoroom provides all three.”
— David Bartfeld, Director of e-commerce, Goodwill Baltimore

A slow image creation process was limiting growth

Before adopting Photoroom, the Goodwill Baltimore team relied heavily on makeshift setups and antiquated editing software to develop product photos.

They grappled with paper rolls, vinyl backdrops, and Microsoft Paint, none of which delivered the professional quality they needed. “Nothing we attempted prior has been more practical and efficient than Photoroom,” David explains.

The old process didn’t just look outdated, it held the team back. Each manual edit slowed down listings, limiting their ability to scale and serve more customers.

Finding speed and simplicity with Photoroom

As you can imagine, an auction marketplace listing hundreds of products needs a visual partner that can process tons of images, fast and in high quality. This was David’s priority when he began researching solutions.

He discovered Photoroom in the process and, once he began using the platform, immediately knew he’d found the right resource.

“The app is very simple to use, especially with the ability to batch edit photos,” he says. “I knew immediately that Photoroom could improve our process, revamp our photo quality, and help us achieve our goals faster.”

Today, the team uses Photoroom to process more than 300 images in a single day. Their new workflow is simple:

• Goodwill’s photographers capture several products using iPhones.

• Next, they use Photoroom’s Batch feature to edit 50+ images at once, removing backgrounds, fixing small details, and applying consistent backgrounds.

• Finally, they export the edited images and list the items online.

Better tools mean clearer photos, faster listings, and greater impact

When asked the biggest impact Photoroom has had on Goodwill Baltimore’s business, David shares:

Improved image quality

“Because of Photoroom, our images jump off the page and are much easier for customers to browse,” says David. Other Goodwill agencies have noticed the difference too, the Baltimore team has since introduced the workflow to the Delaware and Southeast Georgia agencies.

Faster listing cycles and increased revenue

Within just one year of using Photoroom, Goodwill Baltimore significantly increased its product listings. “Photoroom has helped us speed up how we produce quality photography and list items. It’s increased our listings and, ultimately, our revenue,” says David.

Better brand recognition

Customers browsing the shared Goodwill e-commerce platform quickly recognize Baltimore’s photography. “Our customers can look at the 145 Goodwill agencies and tell which photos are ours just by the picture quality alone,” says David. “We continue to receive praise for it.”

Impact on mission

Beyond revenue, the team’s efficiency has benefited the brand’s community programs, helping them fund local initiatives that are transforming people’s lives. David shares, "Photoroom is one of the reasons our agency in Baltimore was able to open Maryland’s very first adult education high school, where students of any age can receive a diploma or GED at no charge."

Goodwill continues to grow its business and its community impact knowing they can focus on what matters most, while Photoroom takes care of the visuals.

“If you are looking for quality, speed and accuracy with your photography, look no further than Photoroom."
— David Bartfeld, Director of e-commerce, Goodwill Baltimore