The Real Real is giving prospective consignors the white glove treatment.
Luxury consignment site The Real Real has expanded its white glove service to 20 cities nationwide, including Seattle, San Antonio and Austin, Tex.
Launched in 2011, the white glove service brings luxury managers to potential consignors’ homes where they offer estimated price ranges for items and consult about which items should be offered for sale. Any items selected to be sold are taken by the luxury manager to one of the The Real Real’s warehouses. The service, which is free, is designed to eliminate hassles for consignors and make the process as smooth and easy as possible.
“Everyone is so busy today,” said The Real Real chief executive officer Julie Wainwright. “The Real Real’s goal is to make it easy to sell your luxury items. Our experienced luxury managers provide an effortless and private way to sell items from the comfort of your home.”
The Real Real’s white glove service began in San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles.
In July, The Real Real formed a strategic partnership with Neiman Marcus to offer a consignor gift-card program that pays The Real Real’s consignors commissions in Neiman Marcus gift cards with an additional 10 percent added to the value of the payout. The program encourages consignors to put their money back into the luxury retail market, and consign again with The Real Real once they’re done with those items, completing the full luxury life cycle.
The Real Real has put a strong emphasis on consignors. It’s going straight to the source with an in-store consignment program at 34 Neiman Marcus units across the country. The stores have signage advertising The Real Real’s consignment services and sales associates work with The Real Real’s luxury managers in each market to provide personalized consignment services and white-glove pickup for customers.
The Real Real, which aims to do $200 million in sales this year, is working to roll out similar programs with other luxury retailers.
The RealReal has four million members and has sold 1.5 million luxury goods to date.
