How One Entrepreneur Is Bringing Vintage Clothes to Your Doorstep

Jessica Abo sits down with Shilla Kim-Parker, the CEO and Founder of ShopThrilling.com, to discuss how she's helping unique and eco-friendly fashion reach more people around the world.

learn more about Jessica Abo

By Jessica Abo

With a toddler at home and a baby on the way, Shilla Kim-Parker is on the move.

When I met Kim-Parker, she had a busy, full-time corporate job and a side-hustle that was becoming more demanding. She decided to leave the comfort of her day job to launch a tech platform she was developing with her co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Brad Mallow.

Her mission in creating ShopThrilling.com is to bring the fun of shopping at local second hand stores online. Like many, Kim-Parker loved hunting for unique items of clothing at vintage and thrift stores. "Usually each item has been hand-picked by the store owner, who has decades of experience curating the highest quality and most interesting pieces from around the world. Plus, you're getting them at incredible value. There's something universally appealing about hunting for these treasures."

However, the growing demands of work and family made it increasingly difficult to make the trek to individual boutiques. Why not, she wondered, bring the magic of shopping these stores to the palm of your hand?

"There are more vintage and thrift stores across the United States than there are Starbucks and McDonalds, and they house billions of dollars of inventory," she says. "And yet, most of their inventory is completely off-line, because most owners don't have the time and capacity to process each individual item."

Enter ShopThrilling.com, which partners with local store owners and does all the technological and logistical work involved with e-commerce -- from photography to shipping. For vintage and thrift fans, ShopThrilling.com offers a one-stop shop to virtually browse (and buy) from the best local stores.

Kim-Parker was also motivated by a growing desire to do her part for the environment. "New apparel production consumes enormous levels of natural resources and is a leading contributor to pollution around the world," she says. "Buying an item of clothing second-hand drastically reduces its waste impact." Kim-Parker wanted to make it as easy as possible for people to "not only shop local, but shop second."

ShopThrilling.com is also giving back in more concrete ways, allowing influencers to donate their clothing to the site, with proceeds going to clothing kids in need. "Paige Spiranac, a remarkable woman and golf talent, was first to do this, and we are incredibly grateful to her for leading the way."

ShopThrilling.com launched November 2018 and is adding stores as quickly as possible, given the growing wait-list of stores across the country eager to sign up.

With her second child due in March, Kim-Parker says with a laugh, "I don't anticipate a lot of sleep this year."

Jessica Abo

Entrepreneur Staff

Media Trainer, Keynote Speaker, and Author

JESSICA ABO is a media trainer, keynote speaker, and bestselling author who uses her 20+ years of TV news experience to help entrepreneurs, C-Suite executives, celebrities, and philanthropists share their stories with the world. An award-winning journalist, Jessica has presented all over the country including at TEDx, Facebook, Microsoft, Delta Airlines, WW, and the United Nations. She has appeared on The TODAY Show, ABC News, Access Hollywood, KTLA, CBS, and NY1 and in Forbes, Fast Company, and Women's Health.  Her debut book Unfiltered: How To Be As Happy As You Look On Social Media sold out on its first day and empowers readers with tools they can use to take back their happiness IRL (in real life).

Related Topics

More from Jessica Abo

How This Entrepreneur Went Global Without VC Funding

Shaping The Narrative of Your (Personal) Brand is The Secret to Your Success. Here's Why.

How this High School Graduate Became a Real Estate Mogul

These 7 Founders Share The Best Investment They Made Before They Launched

Editor's Pick

Everyone Wants to Get Close to Their Favorite Artist. Here's the Technology Making It a Reality — But Better.
The Highest-Paid, Highest-Profile People in Every Field Know This Communication Strategy
After Early Rejection From Publishers, This Author Self-Published Her Book and Sold More Than 500,000 Copies. Here's How She Did It.
Having Trouble Speaking Up in Meetings? Try This Strategy.
He Names Brands for Amazon, Meta and Forever 21, and Says This Is the Big Blank Space in the Naming Game
Business News

These Are the Most and Least Affordable Places to Retire in The U.S.

The Northeast and West Coast are the least affordable, while areas in the Mountain State region tend to be ideal for retirees on a budget.

Business News

I Live on a Cruise Ship for Half of the Year. Look Inside My 336-Square-Foot Cabin with Wraparound Balcony.

I live on a cruise ship with my husband, who works on it, for six months out of the year. Life at "home" can be tight. Here's what it's really like living on a cruise ship.

Business Solutions

Master Coding for Less Than $2 a Course with This Jam-Packed Bundle

Make coding understandable with this beginner-friendly coding bundle, now just $19.99.

Culture

5 Ways to Build Grit in Times of Uncertainty While Growing Your Business Faster Than Others

Perseverance and grit are essential traits for any entrepreneur. By nurturing grit, you will become a better leader, grow your business faster and outperform your competitors.

Thought Leaders

The Collapse of Credit Suisse: A Cautionary Tale of Resistance to Hybrid Work

This cautionary tale serves as a reminder for business leaders to adapt to the changing world of work and prioritize their workforce's needs and preferences.

Business News

Mark Cuban's Grocery Store Hack Will Help You Score Cheaper Produce

The billionaire talked about his early days in Dallas when he was strapped for cash.