🎧 ThredUp's Head of Merchandising on Curating a 20,000 Piece Vintage Drop
Pre-Loved Podcast interview 🎤 with Cynthia Lee, Head of Merchandising at ThredUp
We’re chatting with Cynthia Lee, Head of Merchandising at ThredUp. ThredUp has just launched a limited-time, first-of-its kind curated assortment of more than 20,000 vintage pieces in partnership with the UK-based vintage shops, Beyond Retro.
From childhood treasure-hunting on San Francisco's Haight Street to managing millions of unique daily listings, Cynthia brings 15 years of merchandising expertise from powerhouse brands like Neiman Marcus, eBay, StockX, and Sephora to the digital re-commerce space.
A lover of vintage herself, Cynthia spearheaded this ThedUp x Beyond Retro vintage initiative, and she’s coming on the show today to share how it all came together. Plus, what’s involved in merchandising when you’re talking about millions of unique digital listings, why "flawed gems" deserve a second life, and what’s ahead for the industry in 2025.
Consider this your exclusive behind-the-scenes look at ThredUp's team “knee-deep in thousands of boxes” while curating this massive collection! Let’s dive right in!
"Vintage isn't really a trend — we want you to mix a throwback with something current, something that you've already loved, and something that you own today."
— Cynthia Lee, ThredUp
DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:
[4:03] A lifelong fashion lover whose family was in the fabric business, Cynthia grew up appreciating quality clothing and shopping vintage on Haight Street.
[6:17] The evolving art of merchandising across luxury and digital platforms for brands like eBay, StockX, Sephora, and Neiman Marcus.
[14:41] The daily challenge of merchandising and curating 50,000 new unique listings at ThredUp
[18:07] What’s changed the most in the secondhand industry since Cynthia started doing this work.
[21:48] Why secondhand doesn't devalue luxury brands—it makes them more accessible
[24:07] What’s trending in the secondhand fashion industry in 2025.
[27:16] Sorting through hundreds of boxes for ThredUp's x Beyond Retro 20,000 piece vintage collaboration
[35:05] How this vintage activation might shape future offerings at ThredUp.
EPISODE MENTIONS:
Hope you enjoy the episode — and you can find me across the internet on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! 💛 - Emily
This was such a fascinating episode! I love learning the behind the scenes of these secondhand fashion careers :)