Today, I want to shine a light on a remarkable woman in business whose story is a masterclass in resilience, innovation, and—yes—common sense. Julie Wainwright, the founder and former CEO of The RealReal, recently released her autobiography, and it’s full of the kinds of hard-earned wisdom we could all stand to hear more of to get real.
Julie’s career is anything but conventional. She calls herself a “CEO for hire,” having led multiple companies across industries. But if you remember the dot-com boom (and bust) of the early 2000s, you might recall one of her most infamous chapters: Pets.com. The company quickly became a symbol of dot-com excess, and when it folded, Julie was blamed. She was told she’d never be hired again.
So she made her own luck.
The Beginning
In what turned out to be a turning point, Julie found herself shopping with a friend at a consignment store. Within minutes, her friend spent $5,000 on high-end, secondhand luxury goods. Intrigued, Julie asked what drove that behavior. That conversation sparked an idea: what if luxury resale could be more than a Craigslist post or an eBay auction? What if it could be curated, convenient, and trustworthy? What if it could feel…luxurious?
And that’s how The RealReal was born in 2011.
Julie didn’t just build a company; she redefined an industry. By focusing on authentication, top-notch customer service, and a sleek user experience, she turned secondhand into a first-rate business. She figured out how to solve both sides of the supply and demand equation—attracting high-end sellers who wanted to declutter and buyers who craved real designer goods at a fraction of the price.
Get Real, Real Growth
By 2019, Julie took the company public. It had over $300 million in sales and a valuation of $1.3 billion. Not bad for someone who’d once been written off by Silicon Valley.
But Julie didn’t just change retail—she changed the way we think about luxury goods. She helped transform them from pretty things we like to wear into what many now see as investment pieces. Handbags, shoes, jewelry—they’re not just fashion statements; they’re assets. Buy them. Enjoy them. Then resell them (sometimes for even more than you paid).
It’s a mindset that has only gained momentum. As shoppers grow wary of fast fashion and more conscious about sustainability, the secondhand luxury market is booming. And The RealReal is leading the charge.
Julie Wainwright’s story is a powerful reminder that failure is not the end—it can be the beginning of something far greater. She had the vision to see an opportunity where others saw junk and the grit to keep going when people told her she couldn’t.
So as we head into Friday, take a page out of Julie’s book. Use your common sense. Bet on yourself. And remember: sometimes the best investment you can make is in your own second act.
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Image by gonghuimin468 from Pixabay
