Pre-Loved Podcast with Emily Stochl

S7 Ep9 JESSICA RENNARD: Helpsy’s Chief Merchandising Officer - on annually recirculating 30 million lbs of clothing through collection and resale, and the unique challenges of scaling the circular economy.


Listen Later

Episode Title: 

S7 Ep9 JESSICA RENNARD: Helpsy’s Chief Merchandising Officer  - on annually recirculating 30 million lbs of clothing through collection and resale, and the unique challenges of scaling the circular economy. 

***

Pre-Loved Podcast is a weekly vintage fashion interview show, with guests you’ll want to go thrifting with! For more Pre-Loved Podcast, subscribe to our Patreon!

Today’s show is with Jessica Rennard, the Chief Merchandising Officer at Helpsy, a certified B corp clothing collection and resale company whose mission is to keep clothing out of the landfill. Jessica has worked in resale for the majority of her career and has helped developed the industry – we talk about her wide range of experience on the show, but she’s truly seen it all. 

In 2020 she launched a secondhand business that supplies inventory to casual sellers that utilize re-commerce marketplaces. The business was acquired by Helpsy and Jessica and her team continue to work on strengthening the capabilities of the circular economy.

We chat about annually recirculating 30 million lbs of clothing through collection and resale each, and the unique challenges of scaling the circular economy. All this, and more, on today's show, so let's dive right in!

DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:

  • [4:19] Jessica gets her start in the resale industry – usually working with product that would otherwise be discarded from the rest of the secondhand space.
  • [8:16] Jessica becomes a consultant for the secondhand industry, helping area thrift stores figure out how to sell through their unsold inventory and increase profit margins. 
  • [12:32] The human judgment that goes into clothing sorting – especially in a high-volume center like Helpsy that has seen 86,000 different brands in eight months.
  • [17:13] Jessica helped turn a family-run retail business dealing in overstock  into a fully secondhand, resale business.
  • [20:42] During the pandemic, Jessica started a mystery box company that made $8 million in revenue in 19 months. 
  • [23:14] How Helpsy fits into the resale and textile re-use landscape, and the unique challenges and opportunities they’re tackling within the circular economy.
  • [40:27] Best practices for donating clothing, thoughtfully.
  • [46:15] Designer pieces getting processed through bulk resale – at Helpsy, 3.5% of their sort is classified as high luxury.

EPISODE MENTIONS: 

  • Helpsy
  • @helpsy
  • @thefashiondisruptor
  • The Wardrobe
  • Danielle Vermeer on Pre-Loved Podcast
  • @teleport.ootd
  • Kid to Kid
  • Once Upon a Child
  • Massachusetts textile waste ban
  • Elevate - sustainable production and supply chain consulting

LET’S CONNECT: 

  • 📸Instagram: @emilymstochl
  • 🐦Twitter: @emilymstochl
  • 🎥TikTok: @emilymstochl
  • 📧 Substack: https://prelovedpod.substack.com/ 
  • 🎧Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/prelovedpod 

SPECIAL THANKS: 

A special thanks goes out to my Patron Insiders – your support makes Pre-Loved Podcast possible!

  • Patty Weber
  • Beverley Docherty of Wolfe Pack Vintage
  • Danny of Galaxy Live
  • Kathy Brand
  • Lucero Buendia
  • Tricia Zelazny
  • Leslie V.
  • Lisa of Queenie & Pearl
  • Trudy

 

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Pre-Loved Podcast with Emily StochlBy Emily Stochl

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

141 ratings


More shows like Pre-Loved Podcast with Emily Stochl

View all
The Simple Sophisticate - Intelligent Living Paired with Signature Style by Shannon Ables

The Simple Sophisticate - Intelligent Living Paired with Signature Style

878 Listeners

Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness by Sony Music Entertainment / Jonathan Van Ness

Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness

19,069 Listeners

The Goal Digger Podcast | Top Business and Marketing Podcast for Creatives, Entrepreneurs, and Women in Business by Jenna Kutcher

The Goal Digger Podcast | Top Business and Marketing Podcast for Creatives, Entrepreneurs, and Women in Business

12,063 Listeners

Second Life by Second Life

Second Life

2,854 Listeners

Frugal Friends Podcast by Jen Smith & Jill Sirianni | Backyard Ventures

Frugal Friends Podcast

1,227 Listeners

Millennial Minimalists by Kelly & Lauren

Millennial Minimalists

311 Listeners

Minimal-ish: Minimalism, Intentional Living, Motherhood by Cloud10

Minimal-ish: Minimalism, Intentional Living, Motherhood

999 Listeners

Let's Get Dressed by Liv Perez

Let's Get Dressed

280 Listeners

The Everyday Style School by Jennifer Mackey Mary

The Everyday Style School

522 Listeners

Dear Alice | Interior Design by Alice Lane

Dear Alice | Interior Design

1,503 Listeners

A Beautiful Mess Podcast by Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman

A Beautiful Mess Podcast

2,080 Listeners

The Who What Wear Podcast by Who What Wear

The Who What Wear Podcast

98 Listeners

HER Style Podcast | Shopping, Color Palettes, Fashion, Wardrobe, Outfits, Clothing by Heather Riggs - Stylist, Image Consultant & Color Analyst for Women

HER Style Podcast | Shopping, Color Palettes, Fashion, Wardrobe, Outfits, Clothing

159 Listeners

My So-Called Midlife with Reshma Saujani by Lemonada Media

My So-Called Midlife with Reshma Saujani

144 Listeners

Good Hang with Amy Poehler by The Ringer

Good Hang with Amy Poehler

9,604 Listeners