The luxury resale market has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years, and at the forefront of this revolution stands The RealReal, the world’s largest online marketplace for authenticated, resale luxury goods. Since its founding in 2011, this San Francisco-based platform has fundamentally transformed how consumers engage with pre-owned luxury items, creating a trusted ecosystem where buyers and sellers can participate in the circular economy of high-end fashion.
Building Trust Through Rigorous Authentication
What makes The RealReal stand out in the crowded resale marketplace is its unwavering commitment to authentication. Every item listed on the platform goes through a meticulous inspection by a team of in-house experts, ensuring that each piece meets the highest standards of quality and authenticity. This comprehensive process spans luxury categories including designer clothing, handbags, fine jewelry, watches, and art, giving buyers confidence that their purchases are genuine.
The company’s authentication expertise has become so advanced that they’ve even created public awareness campaigns about the counterfeit crisis. In a bold move in 2024, The Real Real opened an installation on Canal Street featuring 35 confiscated luxury dupes that were “impossible to decipher as fakes with the naked eye,” highlighting the importance of professional authentication in an era where counterfeits are becoming increasingly sophisticated.
Technology-Driven Growth and Profitability
The RealReal’s commitment to technology extends far beyond authentication. The company has leveraged advanced AI and machine learning capabilities to optimize operations, improve customer service, and drive profitability. “We are pleased to report strong first quarter results and our focus remains steadfast,” said Rati Levesque, Chief Executive Officer of The Real Real, reflecting on the company’s recent financial performance.
The results speak for themselves. In the first quarter of 2025, The Real Real reported impressive financial metrics with revenue of $160 million, representing an 11% year-over-year increase, and gross merchandise value (GMV) of $490 million, up 9% compared to the same period in 2024. Perhaps most significantly, the company achieved a net income of $62 million and adjusted EBITDA of $4.1 million, marking a dramatic improvement from previous periods.
Revolutionizing Customer Experience Through Salesforce Integration
The RealReal’s technology strategy includes strategic partnerships that enhance the customer experience. Through its collaboration with Salesforce, the company has optimized the entire consignor and shopper journey, creating a fully personalized, intuitive digital selling and shopping experience for its more than 31 million members.
“The resale landscape is always shifting, and the way people engage with consignment has changed dramatically, even if you’re looking at just the past few years,” said Orr Shakked, Chief Marketing Officer of The Real Real. “We know that to expand the resale marketplace we have to make the process of selling as frictionless as possible, and we’ve set out to make the selling experience easier. With the help of Salesforce’s suite of capabilities, we’ve been able to truly customize the seller experience by curating a more personal and integrated service. This is a tough challenge and we are pleased to work with a global CRM leader that can provide us with the right set of tools to achieve this vision.”
This technology integration allows The Real Real to provide hyper-personalized experiences through Sales Cloud and Marketing Cloud, ensuring every customer interaction is tailored to individual preferences and purchase history.
Sustainable Fashion Leadership
Beyond technology and profitability, The RealReal has emerged as a leader in sustainable fashion. By giving pre-owned luxury pieces a second chance, the company helps reduce waste and the demand for new production, promoting a more circular fashion ecosystem. This approach not only benefits the environment but also makes luxury fashion more inclusive and accessible to a broader audience.
The company’s sustainability commitment extends to innovative programs like ReCollection, where The Real Real partners with luxury brands to create upcycled collections from damaged pieces.
“As a designer, I think it’s the biggest compliment for your designs to have an afterlife. To me, that is luxury. And I take it into consideration from the beginning of the process. The timelessness of the design, how it’s made, what materials are used to produce it—it is all part of our ethos at Stella McCartney,” said Stella McCartney, reflecting on the program.
Looking Forward
The RealReal continues to invest in cutting-edge technology to maintain its competitive edge. The company recently partnered with EON to implement digital IDs for luxury items, streamlining the consignment process and adding another layer of trust to the marketplace. This partnership represents an important step toward meeting upcoming European Union regulations for Digital Product Passports.
With its proven growth playbook and technology-driven approach, The Real Real is well-positioned to continue leading the luxury resale revolution. The company’s ability to combine authentication expertise, technological innovation, and sustainable practices has created a platform that benefits all stakeholders while contributing to a more circular economy.
