Encore, the AI-powered shopping assistant, is breaking down barriers in the world of thrift shopping by bringing hundreds of secondhand markets under one roof. Co-founded by former Apple engineer Alex Ruber and ex-Twitter/Asana engineer Parth Chopra, this search tool stems from a shared love for thrifting and a clear goal: make finding pre-loved treasures online easier and quicker.
The online thrift market is vast and, frankly, a maze -- Depop, Mercari, ThredUp, eBay, Craigslist, and countless others. Each has its own specialty and quirks, leaving shoppers wading through them all to find exactly what they're after. "It's hard for consumers to sift through them all to try and get to the product you are looking for," Ruber told TechCrunch. And that's where Encore comes in, acting as the ultimate aggregator to cut through this fragmentation. Ruber's own quest for a specific TV show jacket inspired him to make Encore a reality.
For Ruber and Chopra, Encore's mission is deeply personal. Both founders are immigrants who frequented thrift stores, where they often found unique, one-of-a-kind items. Chopra, who developed a love for flea markets from his mother, shares how his upbringing influenced his vision for Encore: "For me, there was also personal interest because my mom used to take me to flea markets every Sunday. I bought a lot of stuff from those places," he told TechCrunch.
Encore's AI engine is like having a secondhand stylist by your side. It's powered by a large language model that can process detailed, offbeat queries -- think "Show me a dress that Emily wore in Emily in Paris Season 3 Episode 4'' -- and pull results from top platforms like Poshmark, the RealReal, and eBay. For those moments when you're not sure where to start, Encore's prompts like "Outfit inspo for..." help steer you in the right direction, so you're not staring at a blank screen.
Encore has struck a nerve with thrift lovers in a booming market that's expected to reach $73 billion in the U.S. and $350 billion globally by 2028, according to ThredUp. Encore itself sees over 50,000 searches a month and has been growing consistently, with search volume up 26% month-over-month and clicks growing at 15%. These numbers suggest Encore is becoming a go-to for thrifters looking for a streamlined search.
Encore's current business model relies on affiliate partnerships, but it's also testing a subscription plan. For $3 a month, Encore's power users get perks like unlimited searches, advanced models, image-based searches, and premium support. It's tailored for dedicated thrift hunters who crave a top-tier search experience.
Building a successful e-commerce brand in the age of Amazon
We decided to test Encore without signing up, keeping it casual to see how the platform performs for a new user. Right from the start, we were greeted with a clean, minimalist interface that lets you choose your market location in the top left. We typed "I need iPhone 14" into the search bar, and almost instantly, Encore pulled up a variety of listings from different platforms like Mercari, eBay, and Reebelo, showcasing various options for an iPhone 14.
On the results page, each listing was displayed with essential details, such as price, condition, and seller platform, giving us a quick snapshot of what's available across the secondhand marketplace. The interface also offered suggestions to refine our search, including filters like "show used iPhone 13 options" or "only under $800," allowing us to easily adjust our preferences. This made it clear that Encore's AI isn't just looking for exact matches but is actively interpreting our needs to offer a wider range of options, including related or alternative products that might fit our budget and preferences.
Currently, Encore is available in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, France, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands, covering key regions with established secondhand markets. However, as the demand for sustainable shopping grows globally, Encore could look to expand into other major regions where secondhand retail is thriving like emerging markets in Asia and Latin America.
This expansion could unlock even more opportunities, allowing Encore to tap into diverse thrift cultures and product sources that appeal to both local and international buyers. Each new market would bring unique challenges in terms of inventory sourcing, local thrift trends, and user behavior. Expanding carefully and strategically could help Encore establish a global footprint while maintaining the localized shopping experience that secondhand enthusiasts value.
As Encore grows, it may also draw attention from other startups or established companies looking to capitalize on the booming secondhand market.
Encore has put a smart twist on secondhand shopping, tackling the fragmented market with an AI-powered tool that actually understands what thrifters want.
