The RealReal
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Luxury resale, recommerce |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Founder | Julie Wainwright |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Rati Sahi Levesque (CEO), John E. Koryl (former CEO), Robert Julian (CFO) |
| Products | Verified luxury merchandise including ready-to-wear, couture, handbags, footwear, accessories, jewelry, watches, fine art, homeware |
| Owner | Public shareholders |
Number of employees | 3200 (2023) |
| Website | therealreal |
The RealReal, Inc. operates as a digital marketplace specializing in verified luxury merchandise. Established in 2011 by business founder Julie Wainwright, the firm is a key player in the recommerce sector, with its headquarters located in San Francisco, California. As of September 2023, it boasts a community exceeding 38 million members and has facilitated the sale of nearly 40 million products.
Its inventory spans a wide range of luxury categories including ready-to-wear, couture, handbags, footwear, accessories, jewelry, watches, fine art, and homeware. The RealReal’s operational approach revolves around consignment, offering a marketplace where luxury items are authenticated by specialists to guarantee authenticity and build consumer confidence.
Employing roughly 3,200 staff members in 2023, the company reported revenues surpassing $600 million in 2024. Leadership under CEO Rati Sahi Levesque focuses on strategic growth initiatives aimed at expanding international presence and reinforcing its position within the luxury resale market.
History
The RealReal was launched in 2011 by entrepreneur Julie Wainwright, who had prior experience in e-commerce. By mid-2018, the company had secured $288 million through venture capital investments.
On May 31, 2019, The RealReal submitted an S-1 registration statement to the SEC as part of its preparations for going public. It officially entered the Nasdaq stock exchange on June 28, 2019, trading under the ticker REAL and raising $300 million through its initial public offering.
Founder and CEO Julie Wainwright resigned on June 22, 2022. Subsequently, President and COO Rati Sahi Levesque along with CFO Robert Julian were appointed as interim co-CEOs.
On January 25, 2023, John E. Koryl, an executive with extensive e-commerce experience, was named CEO and joined the board of directors. Later, on October 28, 2024, co-founder and early team member Rati Sahi Levesque assumed the role of CEO.
By the close of 2024, The RealReal declared full-year profitability, marking a notable achievement in its financial trajectory.
Services
With a membership approaching 40 million, The RealReal stands as the largest authenticated luxury resale platform within the United States. It provides five distinct selling methods: in-home pickups, boutique drop-offs, expert consultations, and direct shipping options. Offering comprehensive consignment services, The RealReal manages authentication procedures, pricing through AI and machine learning technologies, product photography, listing creation, shipping logistics, payment processing, and customer support. More than 40 million items have been processed to date, with over 10,000 new products added daily.
Retail footprint
Since inaugurating its first permanent retail location in New York City in 2017, The RealReal has broadened its physical presence across multiple states including California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Texas. The company operates 17 Luxury Consignment Offices where consignors can personally drop off goods and receive valuation advice from specialists; out of these locations, 14 also function as retail stores open to consumers.
Counterfeits
The RealReal has encountered several allegations regarding counterfeit merchandise from established luxury brands. In 2018, Chanel filed a lawsuit accusing the company of listing fake products and suggesting an unauthorized partnership. A Forbes investigation in 2019 uncovered that a Christian Dior handbag priced at $3,600 sold through The RealReal was counterfeit, raising questions about the reliance on non-expert copywriters during authentication. Further scrutiny in 2021 revealed ongoing challenges with counterfeit sneakers that had been authenticated by third-party verifiers but sold as genuine items by The RealReal. The company asserts it employs one of the industry's most stringent authentication protocols and integrates AI tools to enhance verification accuracy.
In early 2020, The RealReal was subject to a class action lawsuit claiming insufficient training for authenticators combined with strict performance quotas increased counterfeit risks. Despite these issues, the company reports counterfeit detections to law enforcement authorities. Items classified as "friendly fakes"—counterfeit goods unintentionally purchased—are generally returned to consignors; other counterfeit products are either destroyed or utilized for staff training purposes.
This continued emphasis on rigorous authentication underscores The RealReal’s dedication to preserving consumer trust within its luxury resale framework amid rapid expansion and public market oversight.
Sustainability
The RealReal has positioned itself as a frontrunner in advancing sustainability throughout the fashion sector. Since its inception in 2011, the company has recirculated over 40 million products, conserving approximately 4.68 billion liters of water and cutting down on 85,857 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. In 2017, it partnered with luxury brand Stella McCartney to promote circular economy initiatives, which were launched in 2018.
To further encourage sustainable fashion, The RealReal designated the first Monday of October as National Consignment Day, an annual occasion dedicated to raising awareness. For this event, the company introduced a tailored sustainability calculator created in collaboration with environmental consultancy Shift Advantage. This instrument quantifies the ecological benefits of consignments handled, underscoring The RealReal’s dedication to transparency and environmental stewardship.
In 2025, The RealReal published its first-ever Resale Report: Circularity, emphasizing its commitment to fostering sustainable growth and strengthening its role in the circular fashion market.