Goodwill Hunting #06: how aggregation theory applies to resale fashion

Because aggregators deal with digital goods, there is an abundance of supply; that means users reap value through discovery and curation, and most aggregators get started by delivering superior discovery.

This is one key insight in Ben Thompson’s famous Aggregation Theory: modern marketplaces get their power from aggregating the demand side. And that’s a much better position than the old way of trying to own the supply side.

As shoppers divest from retail and shift to secondhand, they must commit to building something better. Rather than disengaging from secondhand shopping, they should instead engage with the industry more: use their position in this space—their access and ability—to help create opportunities that benefit all people in the secondhand supply chain. Bec... See more