In this episode of The eCommerce Profitability Show, host Dan Little is joined by Shanya Suppasiritad, Founder of Rntr. 

Join them as they discuss:

Shanya is a transformative leader and innovative thinker on a mission to revolutionise the fashion industry through the circular movement. She established Tumnus and later introduced Coclo. As the winner of the TWOGOOD grant, a distinguished industry guest speaker, and a nominee for the Yarra Sustainability Awards, Shanya's impact is widely recognized. In 2022, her achievements continued with her victory in the Impact X SHIFT! Innovation Challenge and earning NORA’s ‘Best Sustainable Technology Solution’ award for Rntr. 

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Episode Highlights:

03:59 - 11:28 - From Narnia to Fashion Revolution: Shanya's journey into the world of tech and fashion began with a mission to bridge a gap in the fashion industry she passionately loves. Starting with an app called Tumnus, inspired by the magical wardrobe gateway to Narnia, she aimed to match users with local style sisters for clothing swaps. Despite the initial financial struggle, Shanya self-built the MVP, proving the concept's viability with 500 active users in Melbourne. However, facing challenges of scalability and maintaining her original mission, Shanya recognized the need for a solution that would not only meet consumer demand but also involve fashion brands in the growing second-hand market. This led her to build Rntr, aiming to build a bridge that allows brands to engage and profit from the secondary market.

11:28 - 18:40 - The Future of Fashion: Launched with six brands in late 2021, including the prestigious Australian brand Oroton, Rntr. has shown exceptional growth by enabling brands to tap into a profitable secondary market without additional production costs. This model provides an extra revenue stream and enhances brand equity by maintaining control over the customer's journey. With seamless integration for reselling, renting, and even repairing directly from the brand's website, Rntr. offers a solution that handles logistics behind the scenes.

18:40 - 27:22 - Embracing Sustainability Through the Sharing Economy: By embracing the sharing economy, brands can significantly increase garment use and reduce carbon emissions without compromising their integrity or quality. This allows brands to enhance their sustainability efforts and offer a unique shopping experience, similar to the joy of purchasing directly from a beloved brand's store. It's an opportunity for customers to access premium brands affordably through rental or resale, fostering a deeper connection and loyalty towards these brands.

27:22 - 32:10 - The Rise of Sustainable Shopping: With consumer behaviour increasingly leaning towards sustainability and the circular economy, Shanya underscores the importance of eCommerce platforms integrating resale, rental, and product repair options. This shift aligns with the growing demand for sustainable fashion and addresses the pressing need to optimise resource use and reduce waste. As fast fashion brands like H&M and Zara explore resale platforms, Shanya reveals an opportunity for the industry to evolve by improving product quality, adjusting pricing strategies, and reducing output.