James Reinhart is the co-founder of thredUP, a service that lessens the guilt of having foolishly purchased a pair of pants in another town at a small boutique. I won't be the one to condemn splurging but the problems begin when you realize that the pants (and the blouse and the jacket) are too small. Accumulation happens quickly. But James, who put his business savvy and his joint degrees from Harvard Business School and The Kennedy School of Government to work, has the remedy for our clothing clutter and the perfect spark for our urge to conserve. If we thredUP we do something practical, attain something tangible and unload something unwanted.
thredUP (thred•up)
verb thredUPs -·thredUPped
- to join thredUP, a peer-to-peer online clothes management and clothes swapping service.
- to exchange unwanted quality clothing items from your closet for designated quality clothing from somebody else's closet.
LW You launched thredUP in September '09, basically hoping to appeal to people who are looking for a bargain? Or people who are tired of American excess and want to go green?
JR We were focused on the intersection of over-consumption and the new appreciation of being frugal and green. Most people don’t participate in the used clothing market and we wanted to appeal to those folks.
LW So I've got this nice looking buttoned-down cotton shirt — off-white — that I never wear. What do I do with it?
JR You thredUP! Of course! You tell us the size, brand, type of item and we immediately have our algorithm start trying to find someone who wants that item.
LW How does thredUP calculate the perfect swap? If I send in a satin blouse with ruffles and fancy buttons will I get back a tank top?
JR You set your own item, brand, size and use preferences. Then we do our best to find you something you like.
LW What do you think about the "thrill factor" that's such a big part of therapy clothes shopping? A great day shopping is like eating cotton candy and candy apples and loads of chocolate. Amazing. Is thredUP a healthy sugar substitute?
JR thredUP is designed to be fun. When you get a thredUP envelope it’s like getting a present in the mail. That sort of serendipitous experience is what gets people fired up.
LW You're about to kick off thredUP for children's clothes. Tell us about that.
JR Kids grow so fast. They’re growing out of clothes all the time. thredUP helps busy parents conveniently exchange kids clothing online. Swap your 2yr old clothes for 3yr old clothes.
LW So the exchange model for children differs slightly from thredUp for men and women?
JR Yes, thredUP kids is done in bulk since kids tend to grow out of a whole assortment of items all at once. Not only is it by box of item, but parents get to choose the box of items they want if they don’t want thredUP to pick for them.
LW And what's the cost for the service?
JR All you pay is for the envelopes/boxes and shipping. $8/envelope for adults; $13/box for kids.
LW Whenever we hear about growing the economy, it seems to boil down to spending money and buying new things. Do you think bartering and consumerism can get along a bit better?
JR We invented money for a reason. I think barter can work, but only for commodity, low-priced goods where people aren’t willing to spend the time pricing the item.
LW What do you think of Zara clothing?
JR I think Zara’s got cool looking stuff. But it’s shoddily produced and feels like sandpaper on the skin.
LW What are your thoughts on high fashion and runway clothing? Eco-friendly?
JR My friends over at Rent the Runway have got it right. No reason to shell out thousands of dollars for single-use items.
LW Lady Gaga — is she sending out a "clothes message"?
JR Don’t really pay any attention to her. I’m sure there are plenty of folks on both sides of the issue.
LW You were a teacher a few years ago before you started thredUp.
JR I taught at Pacific Collegiate School, a great public charter school in Santa Cruz, CA.
LW Any chance teenagers will ever let go of their favorite stores and go for thredUP? Is there a magic marketing formula that could make your service high school-trendy? Or is there some cool spokesperson who might persuade them to save mom and dad's money?
JR Kids are pretty impressionable. I think if we had a teen spokesperson that would go a long way. In the meantime, it will be up to parents. NewsSip
