Resale & Rental

The fashion resale company finally became profitable last year, but it was at the cost of losing consignors who complain that reselling is no longer as lucrative as it once was on the platform.

In a partnership with resale service provider Reflaunt, the global logistics giant now offers a fulfilment, shipping and platforming solution for brand clients interested in entering the secondhand space.

This week, the French luxury giant scored a $4 million win in its closely watched lawsuit against US reseller What Goes Around Comes Around. The verdict ratchets up legal risk for resellers, making secondhand luxury ‘a more dangerous business.’

The peer-to-peer rental service sidesteps some problems that have plagued Rent the Runway. But it’s not without its own complications (just ask Pickle power users’ dry cleaners).

Spending cooled in 2023 as shoppers grappled with inflation, debt and high mortgage rates. Some retailers were more vulnerable than others. The strongest players are able to meet consumers where they are, through thick and thin.

Rent the Runway and Stitch Fix will give updates on their turnaround efforts. That, plus what else is in store for the coming week.

Croissant is a start-up that melds retail with resale, showing shoppers the secondhand market value of products they want to buy, as well as offering them a simple way to resell those items for immediate cash.

Urban Outfitters has spent over $100 million building Nuuly, a competitor to Rent the Runway that stocks more casual clothing. Four years in, the service is growing fast, and its owner says it will soon be profitable.

Regulators are trying to crackdown on the pollution caused by throwaway fashion. But ensuring old clothes aren’t treated as trash is trickier than it seems.

The secondary market for luxury goods holds significant promise, but there are several key challenges to overcome, writes Luca Solca.

Companies like H&M and Primark are increasingly offering to take back unwanted clothes for resale and recycling. Instead they can end up downcycled, destroyed or dumped, according to a new report from Changing Markets Foundation.

After years of fuelling growth at luxury brands, the consumer segment group — which typically opts for entry-level accessories — pulled back sharply on spending in the first quarter of 2023. BoF unpacks what happened and what’s to come.