Digital-first luxury consignment retailer The RealReal opened a joint store and consignment office this week on Madison Avenue on New York City’s Upper East Side. It’s the first RealReal store to include both a browse-able retail section and a separate consignment office designed for sit-down valuations and consultations with clients.
The new shop is the third brick-and-mortar store for the San Francisco–based company, which has become a major player in pre-owned designer jewelry and watch retailing over the past decade. The retailer has a shop in Los Angeles and a store in SoHo in lower Manhattan.
The small-format Upper East Side unit debuted with a mix of women’s ready-to-wear, handbags, fine jewelry and watches, art, and home pieces.
Valuations on items are free and conducted by on-staff gemologists, horologists, and fashion authenticators specializing in fine jewelry, watches, handbags, and (for the first time in one of its New York stores) swanky and/or collectible sneakers. The RealReal has more than 100 in-house gemologists, horologists, and brand authenticators company-wide.
Shoppers can also make appointments to see high-value pieces such as Hermès Birkin bags, vintage Rolex watches, and archival apparel. Customers can also book personal-shopping sessions, where RealReal stylists curate a selection of pieces from The RealReal’s local and online inventory for them to try on in-store.
“We’re growing our presence in New York to support the strong demand we’ve seen for both shopping and consigning since opening our SoHo store a year and a half ago,” said Julie Wainwright, chief executive officer of The RealReal, in a prepared statement. “This new format store bridges the gap between our luxury consignment offices and our flagships stores, bringing together an expanded assortment of expert services and a curated selection of luxury goods.”
The RealReal releases regular reports on its top-selling brands, and in December shared that Van Cleef & Arpels and Cartier are its top-selling jewelry brands; and Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Panerai (in that order) are its most in-demand watch brands.
Top: The consignment office in the new Madison Avenue RealReal store (all photos courtesy of the RealReal)
Follow me on Instagram: @emilivesilind
Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine
