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Missed our previous edition? Find it here → The $16.7M Retail Blind Spot You Can’t Afford to Ignore
Retailers obsess over foot traffic, dwell time, and basket size. But what about the people who walk in… and walk out without buying? In the Season Two kickoff of The Retail Razor: Data Blades podcast, we sit down with Gareth Johns, Chief Data Officer at TruRating, to unpack one of the most misunderstood — and most powerful — metrics in retail: conversion.
Resale isn’t just a trend anymore — it’s shaping how we shop for the holidays!
The world of fashion is constantly evolving, and circular fashion is at the forefront of this evolution.
In the latest episode of The Retail Razor Show, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden dive into the world of resale and circular fashion, joined by Alon Rotem, Chief Strategy Officer at ThredUp.
Loaded with data-driven insights, this discussion explores two powerful central stories and behaviors:
ThredUp’s evolution from a resale marketplace to Resale as a Service (RaaS) — helping fashion brands launch their own resale programs with ease.
The 2025 Holiday Shopping Report — packed with surprising insights into how consumers view resale for gift giving, sustainable shopping, and circular fashion loyalty programs.
Holiday Shopping Insights: Resale Goes Mainstream
Alon revealed something striking from ThredUp’s 2025 holiday report:
shoppers are increasingly turning to secondhand fashion as a gift option,
nearly 40% of holiday budgets going towards pre-owned items
80% of millennials say they’re open to giving secondhand gifts
47% of consumers said they’re considering selling their closets to fund their gift giving
with 70% of millennials
and 57% Gen Z
What was once niche is now becoming a mainstream holiday shopping strategy, driven by sustainability, affordability, and the thrill of finding unique pieces.
This isn’t just a niche trend but a significant behavioral change that ThredUp has been tracking.
It signals a broader acceptance of resale as part of the circular fashion economy, and it’s reshaping how brands think about loyalty, customer engagement, and holiday promotions.
As consumers become savvy about the value and uniqueness of pre-owned goods, circular fashion is becoming a mainstay, driven partly by the desire to save money and partly by a desire for sustainable shopping practices.
According to the report, we have dual motivations driving resale shopping: value and sustainability.
ThredUp sees this balance of values - practical savings paired with a positive environmental impact - as key to sustaining, and growing, interest in circular fashion.
AI Meets Resale
Alon also shares how ThredUp is investing in AI-powered tools, from image search to personalized curation, to make secondhand shopping easier, more fun, and more profitable.
These innovations help overcome “thrift overwhelm” and deliver curated personalized experiences that rival shopping new, catering to consumers’ search for nostalgia and unique fashion finds.
Resale as a Service: A Game-Changer for Brands
ThredUp’s journey from marketplace to Resale as a Service is a masterclass in retail innovation. By powering branded resale programs, ThredUp helps fashion retailers:
Launch resale programs quickly with minimal lift
Turn closet cleanouts into gift card-driven loyalty programs
Tap into new supply chains while reinforcing sustainability commitments
Align with consumer demand for circular fashion
It’s a win-win-win: brands gain loyalty, customers get value, and ThredUp scales supply. This RaaS model allows brands to host their own resale shops and loyalty programs with relative ease, expanding the reach and impact of circular fashion.
From Lawyer to Leader in Resale
Alon shared his fascinating journey from a corporate lawyer to a key figure in the resale market at ThredUp. As he transitioned from Chief Legal Officer to Chief Strategy Officer, Alon was instrumental in shaping ThredUp’s innovative Resale-as-a-Service strategy (RaaS), for brands looking to step into the circular economy.
The Closet of the Future
As we reached the end of another fascinating discussion on the show, we explored future trends in fashion consumption. Whether through rental models or increased resale, the closet of the future is set to be more dynamic and circular. ThredUp envisions a fashion industry where shopping journeys increasingly begin in the realm of resale, blending economic value with a commitment to sustainability.
Join us on the journey…
The insights from this episode of The Retail Razor Show underscore the excitement and potential in the resale market. With passionate operators like ThredUp pioneering the way, circular fashion is poised not just to continue its rise but to become an integral part of global shopping culture.
Resale is no longer the “alternative” - it’s becoming the future of fashion retail.
And as ThredUp’s holiday report shows, it’s already transforming how we shop, gift, and think about sustainability this season!
For more insights, be sure to listen to the full episode of The Retail Razor Show.
Until next time! Stay sharp. Stay human. Stay ahead!
Sincerely,
Ricardo Belmar & Casey Golden
Co-hosts of The Retail Razor Show
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