SurveysAug 30, 2021
5 Things to Know About The RealReal’s Resale ReportMajorsSep 29, 2021
The RealReal CEO to Be Honored by NRF as Retail Leader
Julie Wainwright is on the National Retail Federation’s 2022 list of “People Shaping Retail’s Future.”
The RealReal Founder and CEO Julie Wainwright has been named to the NRF’s 2022 list of “People Shaping Retail’s Future.”
Washington—The National Retail Federation will honor a group of retail leaders at a ceremony in New York City this January.
One of the honorees on the 2022 list of “People Shaping Retail’s Future” is The RealReal Founder and CEO Julie Wainwright, the woman behind the luxury consignment giant.
From high-priced handbags to high-end clothing, the retailer sells all types of luxury goods. Its watch and jewelry sales have been doing particularly well.
Wainwright founded The RealReal in 2011 at her kitchen table, visiting consignors at their homes with a U-Haul truck, the company’s website states.
The RealReal now has 18 retail locations where customers can sell, consult with experts, and receive free valuations in person.
Related stories will be right here …
One of the honorees on the 2022 list of “People Shaping Retail’s Future” is The RealReal Founder and CEO Julie Wainwright, the woman behind the luxury consignment giant.
From high-priced handbags to high-end clothing, the retailer sells all types of luxury goods. Its watch and jewelry sales have been doing particularly well.
Wainwright founded The RealReal in 2011 at her kitchen table, visiting consignors at their homes with a U-Haul truck, the company’s website states.
The RealReal now has 18 retail locations where customers can sell, consult with experts, and receive free valuations in person.
The other honorees are Five Below President and CEO Joel Anderson, McDonald’s Corporation President and CEO Chris Kempczinsk, CVS Health Executive Vice President and CVS Pharmacy President Neela Montgomery, and Chewy CEO Sumit Singh.
“This year’s honorees have each led their companies through incredible changes,” said Jeff Gennette, chairman and CEO of Macy’s and chairman of the NRF Foundation Board of Directors, in a press release announcing the honorees.
Over the next several weeks, the NRF Foundation will feature the honorees in a series of videos for a behind-the-scenes look at how they built their careers and what their impact on the retail industry has been.
In Wainwright’s video, she gives a nod to gemologists around the 12-minute mark when highlighting careers in the retail industry some may not think of at first.
She noted the company helps employees receive gemology training and shows them how to authenticate luxury brands.
WATCH: The RealReal’s Julie Wainwright Shares Her Insights
“We look forward to celebrating the retail professionals who have dedicated their careers to building better lives and stronger communities,” said NRF Foundation Executive Director Bill Thorne. “These dynamic retail leaders are dedicated to sparking innovation and creating opportunities in the industry that impacts people in every community every single day.”
The 2022 NRF Foundation Honors will be held Jan. 16 at the Marriott Marquis Times Square.
The event will be co-hosted by Gennette and National Retail Federation Board Chairman Mike George, who is set to retire this year as president and CEO of Qurate Retail.
For more information about the event, visit the NRF website.
The 2022 NRF Foundation Honors will be held Jan. 16 at the Marriott Marquis Times Square.
The event will be co-hosted by Gennette and National Retail Federation Board Chairman Mike George, who is set to retire this year as president and CEO of Qurate Retail.
For more information about the event, visit the NRF website.
More on Majors
The Latest
Policies & IssuesOct 08, 2026
Third Wave of IEEPA Tariff Refunds Begins This round of tariff refunds is for importers that have sued over IEEPA tariffs in the Court of International Trade and won.
CollectionsOct 08, 2026
Brent Neale’s New Collection Goes ‘Back to Basics’It revisits the brand’s most requested silhouettes, from "Pillow"-set necklaces and bracelets to "Signature"-set rings and earrings.
SourcingOct 08, 2026
Ethical Gem Fair Heads Back to BrooklynThe trade-only event includes buying opportunities as well as educational sessions on artisanal mining, the new Paraíba source, and more.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionExperience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.
Events & AwardsOct 08, 2026
Pattons Fine Jewelry Sweeps Local Design ContestAra Chanakian, a jeweler at Pattons, took home top honors in every category at Jewelers of Louisiana’s annual jewelry design competition.
Weekly QuizOct 01, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
AuctionsOct 08, 2026
Reba McEntire’s Jewelry, Watches Head to Julien’s AuctionsThe live charity benefit sale in Nashville will also feature gowns, boots, and other memorabilia from the country music legend.
Supplier BulletinOct 08, 2026
Overnight Mountings’ Bridal Builder Helps Jewelers Turn Custom Design into a Hands-On Selling ExperienceSponsored by Overnight Mountings
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
Policies & IssuesOct 07, 2026
The Plumb Club Amplifies Its Voice as Geopolitical Pressures MountThe supplier organization recently joined JA and JVC to have more input on political issues affecting the jewelry industry.
CollectionsOct 07, 2026
Blue Nile, Royal Asscher Collection Highlights Natural Diamond BeautyBlue Nile, a Signet Jewelers-owned brand, is now Royal Asscher’s exclusive licensed retailer in North America.
CollectionsOct 07, 2026
4 Standout Pieces in Audemars Piguet’s First High Jewelry Collection “Royal Oak” pays homage to the brand’s most popular watch model using 18-karat gold as well as diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires.
SourcingOct 07, 2026
AGTA Extends Deadline for 2026 Spectrum Awards EntriesParticipants now have until Oct. 14 to complete their submissions.
Policies & IssuesOct 06, 2026
6 Charged in Connection to String of New Jersey Smash-and-GrabsThe alleged thieves used crow bars and sledgehammers to smash into jewelry stores across the state.
ColumnistsOct 06, 2026
Sherry Smith: Is the Consumer Really Trading Up?Ahead of the holidays, Smith urges jewelers to take a hard look at who’s buying jewelry, what they’re purchasing, and who’s stopped buying.
SourcingOct 06, 2026
DDG Taps Influencers for ‘My Diamond Does Good’ CampaignIn the new consumer-facing campaign, four fashion and lifestyle creators share the stories behind their natural diamond pieces.
Events & AwardsOct 06, 2026
JIS Fall Returns to MiamiThe 2026 edition will feature presentations on alternative materials and design trends, as well as pop-up activations on the show floor.
SourcingOct 05, 2026
De Beers to Take Full Ownership of Gahcho KuéIt is the last fully operational diamond mine in Canada following the recent closures of Ekati and Diavik.
AuctionsOct 05, 2026
The Star Cats of the Sandy Lerner AuctionThese jewels stood out at Bonhams’ sale of the cat-loving tech entrepreneur’s collection of objects depicting the feline form.
CollectionsOct 05, 2026
Sorellina Writes Another Love Letter for ‘Postscript’ CollectionThe fine jewelry brand has expanded the collection that debuted at Couture with four new designs based on its most popular styles.
SourcingOct 05, 2026
Bruce Bridges Joins CIBJO BoardThe AGTA president was elected for a two-year term on the board of directors.
SourcingOct 02, 2026
De Beers, National Geographic Society Renew Okavango Eternal Partnership The partnership, a pledge to protect Africa’s Okavango River Basin, has been extended for an additional five years.
MajorsOct 02, 2026
Pandora Opens New $150M Manufacturing Facility in VietnamThe new facility, its first outside of Thailand, will boost its manufacturing capacity by 50 percent.
TrendsOct 02, 2026
Hearts On Fire Celebrates 30th Anniversary With Heart PendantThe special-edition “Dream” pendant, our Piece of the Week, was created to mark Hearts On Fire’s 30-year milestone with 30 diamonds.
CrimeOct 01, 2026
Police Looking for 4 Suspects in $600K Smash-and-Grab RobberyDubai Jewelers in Springfield, Virginia, was once again the target of an armed robbery.
SurveysOct 01, 2026
Rolex Ranks Among Most Recommended Brands in US, Survey Says YouGov’s 2026 U.S. Most Recommended Brands report’s out, and a fast-fashion giant is sitting at No. 1 while Rolex is just shy of the top 5.
SourcingOct 01, 2026
Columbia Gem House Opens ‘Cutting Toward Change’ FundraiserProceeds from its jewelry raffle will benefit an organization working in India to combat silicosis, a lung disease affecting stone cutters.
TrendsOct 01, 2026
Carolina Hurricanes’ Championship Ring Reveals Hidden Hockey Puck PendantThe rings, crafted by Jason of Beverly Hills, celebrate the hockey team’s Stanley Cup win with design elements that honor its traditions.
