Meet the World’s First ‘Smart’ Thrift Store

The world’s largest online secondhand store plans to open five technology-backed stores by end of 2017.

thredUP, the world’s largest online thrift store, today announces the opening of their first smart store in San Marcos, Texas, with plans to open four additional locations by the end of 2017. Powered by proprietary technology and a trove of customer insights, thredUP’s stores are tailored to the modern consumer to reinvent the traditional thrift experience.

A Mission to Go Mainstream

While consumer mindset is rapidly shifting online, omni-channel retail makes up 91% of the U.S. retail market, presenting immense potential for brands that can connect online and offline retail in a smart, intuitive way.

“We’re changing the way people think about thrift...In fact, 50% of our customers had never shopped ‘used’ before trying thredUP online,” said James Reinhart CEO and Co-Founder of thredUP.

“With 85% of apparel still bought offline, stores help us reach those who need to ‘see it to believe it.’ We’ve found that once customers experience thredUP’s expectation-shattering quality standards, value and brands — they just keep coming back.”

The Thrift Store of the Future

thredUP has spent years revolutionizing the secondhand industry through technology. Now, the company has set out to revive the offline thrift model — informed by data science and operational automation the team has engineered along the way.

1. Spaces & Styles Backed by Data

With tens of thousands of items selling online daily, thredUP can pinpoint exactly what’s trending by city and will stock shelves accordingly. This is a huge upgrade from traditional consignment stores that “eyeball it” when buying inventory. Further, retail locations are informed by the company’s most active customer bases, priming stores for success.

2. A Revolving Door of Fresh Goods

Unlike traditional retail, where styles are swapped out seasonally, thredUP has the unique ability to tap into their constant influx of fresh inventory and 35,000 brands to create a new store every time the customer walks in the door. Each store is connected to thredUP’s national network of distribution centers, transforming the “stock room” into a revolving-door of endless discovery.

3. Amazing Prices on Top Brands

thredUP offers up to 90% off the largest selection of brands anywhere, with top-selling online brands including J. Crew, Madewell, Banana Republic, Michael Kors, Club Monaco and Lululemon. With an average discount of 80% off, thredUP stores give new meaning to the idea of everyday value. In thredUP stores, everything is on sale, all the time.

Tech-Enhanced Shopping — Coming Soon!

The next update to thredUP stores will include a technology integration, leveraging visual search and personalization — that will deliver a truly seamless experience between in-store and online.

1. ‘New Treasure’ Notifications

Today’s shopper craves an intuitive experience. thredUP will cull thousands of SKUs to instantly notify customers of new in-store arrivals in their size, favorite brands and styles. Customers have all the fun of a treasure hunt with none of the work, and will never have to worry about missing out on the perfect find.

2. Next-level Customer Service

Armed with shopper data and an endless selection online, thredUP’s ‘psychic salespeople’ can deliver a smarter, personalized experience. thredUP salespeople can pre-stock a customer’s dressing room, suggest online goodies based on in-store browsing, and even send a surprise box to their doorstep to try on at home.

3. Home-Try-On to Complete the Look

thredUP stores will soon offer a ‘DressUP’ feature that uses visual search technology to present shoppers with items available on thredUP.com that complement their in-store purchases. Select online items that ‘complete the look,’ and have them shipped to your home to ‘try before you buy.’ Return anything you don’t love, and keep what you want.

A Refreshing Retail Model

Amid tired retail options and big-brand store closings, thredUP has built something different. Notifications of daily new arrivals, one-of-a-kind finds, and amazing prices create a ‘thrill of the hunt’ vibe that gives customers a reason to keep coming back.

“It’s no secret that traditional retail is a little less fun and a little less fresh than it used to be.”

“Our flexible supply chain and technology-first mindset puts us in a unique position to inject some spice into discount shopping,” said Reinhart. “We want to deliver incredible value and fun, engaging experiences that continue even after the customer has left the store.”

The thredUP customer is everywhere and the store strategy is designed to reflect that. thredUP store locations will span traditional malls to outlet centers to main streets all over America. thredUP’s first store will open in the Tanger Outlet in San Marcos, Texas with nearby neighbors including Adidas, Forever 21, H&M, Polo Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and West Elm.

About thredUP: thredUP is the largest online thrift store where millions of women internationally refresh their closets. The company resells clothing from more than 35,000 brands for up to 90% off the original retail value. Headquartered in downtown San Francisco and backed by world-class investors, thredUP is reinventing the secondhand clothing industry and inspiring a new generation of consumers to think secondhand first. Learn more atwww.thredUP.com.