S9 Ep16 THREDUP: Cynthia Lee, Head of Merchandising at ThredUp - on merchandising one of the largest online resale platforms, and curating a 20,000 piece vintage collection.

Inside ThredUp's Massive Vintage Collection with Cynthia Lee:

On today’s show, we’re chatting with Cynthia Lee, the Head of Merchandising at ThredUp, who have just launched a limited-time, first-of-its kind curated assortment of more than 20,000 vintage pieces in partnership with Beyond Retro.

From childhood treasure-hunting on San Francisco's Haight Street to managing millions of unique daily listings, Cynthia brings 15 years of merchandising expertise from powerhouse brands like Neiman Marcus, eBay, StockX, and Sephora.

A lover of vintage herself, Cynthia spearheaded this initiative, and she’s coming on the show today to share how it all came together. Plus, what’s involved in merchandising when you’re talking about millions of unique digital listings, why "flawed gems" deserve a second life, and what’s ahead for the industry in 2025.

Consider this your exclusive behind-the-scenes look at ThredUp's team "knee-deep in boxes" while curating this massive vintage collection! Let’s dive right in: 

DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:

• [4:03] A lifelong fashion lover whose family was in the fabric business, Cynthia grew up appreciating quality clothing and shopping vintage on Haight Street.
• [6:17] The evolving art of merchandising across luxury and digital platforms for brands like eBay, StockX, Sephora, and Neiman Marcus.
• [14:41]  The daily challenge of merchandising and curating 50,000 new unique listings at ThredUp
• [18:07] What’s changed the most in the secondhand industry since Cynthia started doing this work.
• [21:48] Why secondhand doesn't devalue luxury brands—it makes them more accessible
• [24:07] What’s trending in the secondhand fashion industry in 2025.
• [27:16] Sorting through hundreds of boxes for ThredUp's x Beyond Retro 20,000 piece vintage collaboration
• [35:05] How this vintage activation might shape future offerings at ThredUp.

EPISODE MENTIONS: 

• ThredUp
• The Vintage Pop-Up
• Beyond Retro
• Wasteland
• 7 Timely Takeaways from the ThredUp Resale Report
• Talking Key Trends with ThredUp’s Danielle Vermeer 
• Danielle Vermeer on Pre-Loved Podcast
• ThredUp 2025 Resale Report
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