The RealReal is an American online luxury consignment marketplace founded in 2011 by Julie Wainwright. Headquartered in San Francisco, the company is publicly traded on the NASDAQ. The RealReal specializes in authenticated, pre-owned luxury goods including clothing, handbags, shoes, jewelry, watches, and home decor from brands such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Rolex, and Cartier.
Authentication is central to the company's value proposition. The RealReal employs a team of experts including gemologists, horologists, and brand authenticators who inspect and verify each item before it is listed for sale. The company uses a combination of AI technology and human expertise to detect counterfeits. Consignors can ship items for free or schedule a free in-home pickup in select markets.
The platform offers free shipping on orders over 75 USD in the United States. Returns are accepted within 14 days for most items, with store credit provided. The RealReal operates several retail locations in major cities including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago, where customers can browse, consign, and attend authentication workshops.
The RealReal's First Look program gives top consignors access to personal luxury managers and priority processing. The company promotes itself as a sustainable alternative to fast fashion, estimating that its resale model keeps millions of items out of landfills and reduces the environmental impact associated with producing new goods. The platform processes millions of items and has generated over 1 billion USD in cumulative gross merchandise value.