No more one-wear dresses
Kirk Penton - Jul 17, 2019 - Biz Releases

Photo: Contributed
Alyssa Regier has a wide selection of choices through her home-based business, GlamLend.

You know how you bought that bridesmaid dress, wore it once, and it will now sit in your closet until the end of time?

You’re not alone.

And that’s how Alyssa Regier came up with the idea for a new business based out of her home. It’s called GlamLend, and it gives people a chance to rent that dress they’re going to wear only once. Why spend all that money when you can get it for a fraction of the cost and not waste closet space?

Regier had been trading dresses with her girlfriends for weddings and other special functions, and she realized there was an opportunity there. She also liked the idea of sustainability. She learned shortly after launching GlamLend in April that there is a long list of events—other than weddings—that require glamorous clothing, whether it’s maternity photo shoots, baby showers, work trips, vacations or graduations.

“Women are probably notorious for going out and buying something brand new, and then it sits in their closet forever, never to see the light of day again,” Regier said. “So I kind of want to push in the other direction. Use something, return it and maybe only spend money on our really good stuff that we wear.”

Regier started acquiring clothing and shoes by donation, which got the donor a free rental, and by purchasing new items.

“It’s kind of nice to start out with new,” Regier said. “Everyone always feel good when they wear something newer. I have been buying consignment as well, but I’ve also been buying lots off of Facebook Marketplace or Castanet or whatever.”

Regier has had to create more storage space in her basement as her stock has grown. Clients can peruse options on GlamLend’s Facebook page before heading to Regier’s home to try on their choices. The normal rental period is three to five days, although other arrangements can be made if, for example, you’re going on a week-long vacation.

The return policy is easy as well; simply return it to a bin outside Regier’s home. No cleaning or contact with Regier is required.

“There’s definitely a demand for it, and the quality of people that seem to be reaching out to me are awesome,” she said. “At first a lot of people wondered if I felt weird about having people come to my house. And I’m generally not like that anyways, but I have to say: The quality of people has been awesome. They’re amazing. I’ve not met a single person that I would feel uncomfortable having in my home.”

She’s already getting repeat business.

“When they come out they bring a friend, so it’s way more fun,” Regier said. “We have music playing downstairs. They’re trying stuff on. It’s a little bit social. They’re having fun with it.”

Grad season was busy for Regier, and she wants to give back next year by helping out high school students who can’t afford a brand new dress.

“I thought it’d be cool to have a bunch of dresses and let them have that experience,” Regier said. “Let them come and try them on, and charge for the price of dry cleaning.”


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