Rent the Runway is a subscription service that allows consumers to rent designer clothing online or from one of its five physical stores within the US. There are various subscription tiers, from single garments to four at any one time, which can be swapped either once a month or as much as required. Rent the Runway’s stores also provide added benefits, such as the services of a personal stylist who will work with customers to pick the best suited products to either rent immediately or reserve for a later date. The service aims to make garment returns as easy as possible and partnered with department store retailer Nordstrom to introduce drop-off boxes at several of its stores. At the end of their rental life, Rent the Runway also sells garments via the off-price Nordstrom Rack stores.
Clothing rental business Rent the Runway has decided not to reopen its five bricks-and-mortar stores in the USA due to the Covid-19 pandemic and will focus instead on ecommerce.
As brands’ reputation and sales are increasingly made or broken on the back of their reputations, retailers share their tips for success in a changing consumer economy.
Rent the Runway has partnered with W Hotels to allow shoppers to pay a flat fee to rent a selection of outfits upon arrival rather than bringing luggage.
Rent the Runway’s tech boss has insisted the business will not use “gimmick” technology in a bid to help customers select the right-sized garments online.
Rent the Runway has temporarily stopped taking on new customers as it grapples with a number of inventory and supply chain issues.
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