James Reinhart (ThredUp) on Educating Your Customer, Designing a Stellar Customer Experience, and the Future of Fashion Resale

James Reinhart didn’t set out to change the way we shop—he just wanted to clean out his closet. But that simple idea turned into ThredUp, the giant and beloved resale marketplace. In today’s episode, Sammi sits down with James to unpack how he went from teaching in classrooms to disrupting closets.

They talk about the bold bet that helped ThredUp outsmart competitors, why the “Clean Out Kit” became their secret weapon, and what most people get wrong about the secondhand economy. James also shares why partnerships with legacy retailers like Walmart and Macy’s matter, how AI is reshaping resale logistics, and his take on live shopping.

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Here’s what Sammi covers today with James:

00:00 James Reinhart’s Social Currency

01:51 From Education to Entrepreneurship

04:07 The Genesis of ThredUp

09:00 Building the Founding Team

15:20 The Managed Marketplace Model

18:37 The “Clean Out Kit” Innovation

25:43 Challenges in Secondhand Retail

28:56 Resale Market Growth Predictions

29:40 Trends in Secondhand Selling

30:23 Consumer Behavior in Secondhand Shopping

32:19 Customer Loyalty and Retention Strategies

34:06 AI Innovations in Secondhand Retail

39:46 Impact of De Minimis Exemption on Retail

46:34 Future of Retail and Brand Building

51:19 POV on Live Shopping

54:05 Surprising Consumer Behaviors

55:34 How to Show Social Currency Some Love

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