Rent The Runway: Jenn Hyman Jenn Hyman got the idea for Rent the Runway in 2008, after she watched her sister overspend on a new dress rather than wear an old one to a party. Jenn and her business partner built a web site where women could rent designer dresses for a fraction of the retail price. As the company grew, they dealt with problems that many female entrepreneurs face, including patronizing investors and sexual harassment. Despite these challenges, Rent The Runway now rents dresses to nearly six million women and has a reported annual revenue of $100 million. PLUS in our postscript "How You Built That," we check back with Monica Mizrachi and her son Solomon who built EzPacking, a business that sells sets of clear squishy plastic packing cubes. (Original broadcast date: August 7, 2017.)
Special Series

How I Built This

For all new episodes, go to the How I Built This page on Wondery.com Listen early and ad-free on Wondery+ Listen on Amazon Music

Rent The Runway: Jenn Hyman

Rent The Runway: Jenn Hyman

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/656936877/656963787" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Angie Wang for NPR
Jenn Hyman, creator of Rent The Runway.
Angie Wang for NPR

Jenn Hyman got the idea for Rent the Runway in 2008, after she watched her sister overspend on a new dress rather than wear an old one to a party.

Jenn and her business partner built a web site where women could rent designer dresses for a fraction of the retail price.

As the company grew, they dealt with problems that many female entrepreneurs face, including patronizing investors and sexual harassment.

Despite these challenges, Rent The Runway now rents dresses to nearly six million women and has a reported annual revenue of $100 million.

How You Built That

We check back with Monica Mizrachi and her son Solomon who built EzPacking, a business that sells sets of clear squishy plastic packing cubes.

How You Built That: EzPacking

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/656936877/656967255" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Special Series

How I Built This

For all new episodes, go to the How I Built This page on Wondery.com Listen early and ad-free on Wondery+ Listen on Amazon Music