NiftyThrifty

Nifty Thrifty emerged as an online, Brooklyn-based startup founded by Topper Luciani. The venture was born from Luciani's frustration with the limitations of purchasing vintage clothing on platforms like eBay. His professional journey in the used clothing sector began after his first fashion brand, Sir Drake, ceased operations during the 2008 financial crisis, an experience that led him to avoid manufacturing new goods. Subsequently, he began reselling used neckties on eBay, which unveiled the larger market potential of the secondhand clothing economy.

Luciani, along with his cousin Paul Longo, developed NiftyThrifty.com as a curated e-commerce platform for vintage items. The business secured a seed investment and later received an injection of $2 million in funding from Tribeca Venture Partners. The company established its operations in a Williamsburg warehouse, which also housed a 12-person team. Nifty Thrifty was one of several startups Luciani co-founded between 2011 and 2018 in the used clothing space, experiences that later informed his founding of Goodfair in 2018.

The business operates as an online marketplace for curated vintage and secondhand clothing. Initially focusing on women's apparel, the platform aimed to provide quality vintage goods to a discerning, urban female demographic. The business model was membership-based, offering shoppers access to a wide array of items from various vintage sellers, thereby overcoming the geographical limitations of physical thrift stores. The platform's inventory is not limited to high-end brands but includes any unique vintage item, from designer labels to unique, handmade t-shirts, aiming to appeal to a broad customer base. The company also incorporated guest curators to bring diverse styles and trends to the site's selection.

Keywords: online thrift store, vintage clothing, secondhand apparel, e-commerce, curated vintage, sustainable fashion, Topper Luciani, used clothing marketplace, online consignment, circular economy, vintage fashion, resale market, pre-loved clothing, thrift shopping, apparel resale, Brooklyn startup, venture capital, curated e-commerce, vintage sellers, membership model