Shilla Kim-Parker founded 'Thrilling' in 2018, a local clothing store that has recently expanded to become an online resale startup. Kim-Parker quickly found that, while her store was successful, there was a much larger opportunity for supporting small businesses to be found online. Thrilling works by partnering primarily with BIPOC or female-owned independent retailers of previously-owned clothing stores across the United States to allow for convenient, online reselling with a wide range of products.
Thrilling is very successful while remaining ethically motivated. Since the recent launch of Thrilling's online marketplace, it has garnered over 400 partnerships across the U.S., meaning there are plenty of clothing options and locations available. Thrilling has found the management of an online marketplace to be much more difficult than a small in-store location, but these challenges are funded sufficiently through Thrilling earning a commission on each sale made on its website.
Online Resale Startups
Thrilling is a Local Clothing Resale Store that Recently Expanded to Online
Trend Themes
1. Online Resale Marketplaces - Expanding local clothing stores to online resale marketplaces, partnering with independent retailers, enables a wider range of products to be available for consumers.
2. Supporting Small Businesses - Partnering primarily with BIPOC or female-owned independent retailers of previously-owned clothing stores across the United States supports small businesses and inclusive collaboration.
3. Ethical Consumerism - Offering ethical motivations and commissions to small businesses on an online resale marketplace facilitates an opportunity for consumers to be ethically motivated while shopping.
Industry Implications
1. Retail Industry - Expanding local clothing resale stores to online resale marketplaces creates competition within the retail industry and provides consumers with a wider range of options.
2. Small Business Industry - Partnering with independent retailers, particularly BIPOC or female-owned businesses, supports the small business industry and opens up new markets for independent retailers.
3. Sustainability Industry - Offering an online resale marketplace for previously-owned clothing from small businesses can facilitate a sustainable approach to fashion and reduce the carbon footprint of textile-based industries.