Dive Brief:
- Joining a wave of other retailers implementing AI technology, ThredUp on Monday launched multiple new artificial intelligence-driven shopping tools to improve product discovery on its platform, according to a company press release.
- The company deployed AI to implement natural language-based text searches and image searches. Shoppers can now use specific text prompts like “swimsuit for a triathlon” or use images from their phone or Instagram to find the items they’re seeking, according to the announcement.
- The company also introduced an AI chatbot to help shoppers get styling advice. Using the tool shoppers can enter a prompt such as “outfit for a fall wedding,” receive styling recommendations from the chatbot and refine the suggested look based on criteria like color or style.
Dive Insight:
ThredUp joins other retailers that have begun adding AI technology to their operations.
Target and Walmart have used AI tools to help store associates answer procedural questions or find products for customers if they aren’t available in-store. Similarly, eBay last week said it will continue investing in AI tools to improve the user experience for both buyers and sellers.
In its announcement, ThredUp noted that it has more than 4 million items on its platform. Its new AI features are meant to help shoppers find the items they want faster, the company said.
“AI presents an enormous leap forward for secondhand shopping by bringing emotion and storytelling to the millions of unique shopping journeys that happen regularly on ThredUp,” James Reinhart, CEO of ThredUp, said in a statement. “Given the breadth of our offering with millions of unique items available in our marketplace at any given time, generative AI technology is accelerating how we’re changing the way consumers shop and providing the easiest and most fun way to shop sustainably.”
The addition of ThredUp’s AI-powered shopping tools also comes as the secondhand goods market continues to grow. ThredUp in March released a report predicting that the U.S. used clothing market will reach $73 billion by 2028. As of 2023, the U.S. used clothing market was valued at about $43 billion.
