Store of the Future
World's largest online thrift store opens shop of the future in San Marcos
The "thrift store of the future" is coming to Texas. ThredUP, the world's largest online thrift store, is opening its first-ever brick-and-mortar store in San Marcos at the Tanger Outlets, an hour from San Antonio. The official grand opening is set for July 20, and shoppers can expect a super-personalized experience, thanks to smart technology.
In the era of Uber, HelloFresh, and Instacart, it was only a matter of time before thrift stores made the jump to a more customized, digital approach. And that's precisely what thredUP has done.
Touting itself as a "thrift store of the future," thredUP presents the perfect shopping experience for the modern-day consumer. Among the many innovative features that the online store boasts, thredUP works to determine which brands are trending in which cities and areas, and then stocks the shelves accordingly. This standard will hold true for the physical location, as well.
And, in the vein of personal styling services such as Stitch Fix, thredUP's "psychic salespeople" will actually pre-stock your dressing room and help make suggestions based on your preferences and in-store browsing. "Psychic salespeople" can also provide shoppers instant notifications of relevant new arrivals, and you can even elect to receive a surprise box of clothing to try on at home.
ThredUP swaps out styles seasonally and regularly refreshes its inventory with 35,000-plus brands, including J. Crew, Madewell, Banana Republic, Michael Kors, Lululemon, and more, offered at less than half the regular price. Overall, thredUP claims to have an average discount of 80 percent off.
The thrift empire was founded by James Reinhart in 2008 and is now the largest online marketplace for buying women’s and kid’s secondhand clothing.
The 50th anniversary merch.Photo courtesy of Sanrio
This mug would go great with hot chocolate.Photo courtesy of Sanrio