Dive Brief:
- Rent the Runway on Thursday announced it has partnered with W Hotels on a "Closet Concierge" service at select hotels, according to a company press release.
- Upon booking a room, guests will be able to choose four styles to rent for $69 and have those items waiting for them in their hotel rooms. Guests can then drop off items at their location's welcome desk when checking out.
- The RTR Closet Concierge service is launching at W Aspen, W South Beach, W Washington, D.C. and W Hollywood.
Dive Insight:
Rent the Runway is taking their clothing rental service on the road.
The company's new Rent the Runway Closet Concierge launch is a means of extending services so clients can "pack light, really light." While guests will have access to Rent the Runway's Unlimited Closet, selections also will be personalized to each hotel location based on silhouettes, trending colors and the area's climate.
"Traveling without luggage has always been my dream," Jennifer Hyman, co-founder and CEO of Rent the Runway, said in a statement. "[T]ravelers can simply show up and have their dream closet waiting for them in their hotel room."
The clothing rental company reached unicorn status this past spring, but hit some major fulfillment issues this fall, causing the company to temporarily halt operations, pause the acceptance of new subscribers and issue refunds to customers who were impacted.
The company has been experimenting with partnerships, including with select Nordstrom locations for order pickup and returns, and with coworking firm WeWork through pop-ups and drop boxes. This year, Rent the Runway also collaborated with West Elm to launch a home goods rental service and expanded into children's apparel by working with 13 designers, including Fendi, Stella McCartney and Little Marc Jacobs.
