Disrupting the Resale Industry with Jessica Rennard

Is your inventory celebrating a birthday? In this episode, Crystal Vilkaitis is joined by Jessica Rennard, founder of NuSource and "The Fashion Disruptor," to discuss why retailers need to stop being emotional about their products and start treating them like widgets. 

Jessica shares her journey from monetizing non-profit donations to building a "mystery box" empire that helps retailers source quality secondary market goods. Whether you are a traditional boutique owner or a dedicated reseller, this conversation dives into the tactical side of inventory velocity, the rise of live selling platforms like Whatnot, and how to diversify your shop with sustainable, high-quality resale items. 

[3:18] Jessica’s journey from non-profit management to the resale world 

[4:47] How NuSource helps retailers scale their inventory engine 

[5:07] Current trends: Moving from fast fashion to "quality over quantity" 

[6:29] The biggest inventory mistake: Holding onto "widgets" for too long 

[7:45] Using AB testing and sales cycles to unlock cash flow 

[8:52] The hidden labor costs and processing hurdles of resale inventory 

[11:01] Top inventory management systems for the thrift and resale industry 

[12:53] Why every retailer should be experimenting with live selling 

[13:42] What is Whatnot? Exploring the $9 billion live-selling marketplace 

[15:12] Resilience Round: Atomic Habits, Blue Ocean Strategy, and ShipHero 

[16:22] The future of hybrid retail: Bringing vintage racks into traditional stores 

[17:02] How to use "Brand Mystery Boxes" to test resale in your shop 

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