EFR 885: How The RealReal Founder Turned Failure Into a $1 BILLION Luxury Brand with Julie Wainwright
This episode is brought to you by Timeline Nutrition and Pique Teas.
Julie Wainwright is the powerhouse founder behind The RealReal, the luxury resale juggernaut she launched at 53 after being publicly shamed for the failure of Pets.com. In this episode, Julie tells the full story—how she bounced back, took on Amazon by doing what they wouldn’t, and faced off against Chanel in a high-stakes industry lawsuit. She opens up about navigating sexism in boardrooms, creating value from secondhand fashion, and why the future belongs to bold founders, not safe CEOs.
Follow Julie @realrealjulie
Follow Chase @chase_chewning
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In this episode we discuss...
00:00 - Julie Wainwright Introduces The RealReal
00:35 - The Founder vs. CEO Mentality
03:00 - Raising $700M: A Story of Persistence
06:08 - Turning Around Berkeley Systems & Pets.com
09:03 - Why Founders Must Embrace Possibility, Not Logic
10:14 - PE vs. VC: Who Should You Trust With Your Startup
13:25 - Starting The RealReal at 53 After Total Rejection
16:04 - “Plan B Was Hell”: Yoga, Snakes & Arizona
18:42 - Why Amazon Would Never Compete in Luxury Resale
20:04 - The Boutique Experience That Sparked The RealReal
21:35 - Launching in 4 Months: Julie’s Execution Playbook
23:32 - Making Resale Cool: Hiring a Fashion Insider
25:43 - Keeping the Romance of Luxury Alive
27:21 - Luxury as Art: Why the RealReal Appeals Emotionally
29:01 - Monetizing Secondhand Luxury
30:54 - How Resale Changes Consumer Behavior
33:29 - Girl Math, Cartier Watches & Smart Shopping
35:15 - Why Resale Was So Hard Before The RealReal
37:01 - Chanel’s Vendetta Against The RealReal
38:28 - Neiman Marcus Deal Sabotaged by Chanel
40:26 - Chanel Lawsuit: Accusations & Counterclaims
41:36 - WWD Awards Night & Chanel's Petty Tactics
45:20 - Thugs at Her Door: When Things Got Physical
47:53 - Where She Stands with Chanel Today
48:22 - Why Julie Got Fired from The Company She Built
51:42 - The Boardroom Coup: What Really Happened
54:01 - Her Theory: Money, Power & Politics
56:10 - Business Advice for Small Business Owners
58:09 - How Julie Sets Quarterly Goals & Metrics
60:13 - Don’t Believe Your Own Press
63:39 - Ever Forward”
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Episode resources:
- FREE sample pack of MitoPure gummies at https://www.Timeline.com/everforwardsample
- 20% off for life of gut-friendly teas and healthy drink mixes at https://www.PiqueLife.com/everforward
- Watch and subscribe on YouTube
- Get her book here on Amazon
