Publications

August 2014
Case

Rent the Runway (Abridged)

By: Thomas R. Eisenmann, Brent Goldfarb and David A. Kirsch

Two months after a successful launch In November 2009, the cofounders of Rent the Runway (RTR), a website that rented designer dresses, are debating whether to grow their startup at a measured pace and focus on improving operational effectiveness, or raise a new round... View Details

Keywords: Lean Startup; Electronic Commerce; Fashion; Expansion; Business Startups; Growth and Development Strategy; E-commerce; Fashion Industry

September 2012
Teaching Plan

Rent the Runway (TP)

By: Thomas R. Eisenmann

30 Apr 2015
News

A Warehouse Dash with Rent the Runway

Keywords: Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores; Retail Trade

25 Mar 2019
News

Rent The Runway Joins the Unicorn Club

Photo via Forbes, courtesy of Rent the Runway Photo via Forbes, courtesy of Rent the View Details

Keywords: Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores; Retail Trade

20 Oct 2019
News

Rent the Runway Opens Galway Office

Keywords: ecommerce; leadership; women in business; Ireland; entrepreneurship; Retail Trade

24 Apr 2017
News

Rent the Runway Cofounder Joins Walmart Tech Incubator

Keywords: Retail Trade

17 Nov 2016
News

Rent the Runway Sets Up Shop at Neiman Marcus

110-year-old department store, which will see new Rent the Runway shops open inside of existing Neiman Marcus locations. (Rent the View Details

19 Oct 2018
News

Rent the Runway Wants to Lend You Your Look

Keywords: Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores; Retail Trade

20 Mar 2017
News

Rent The Runway Cofounder Fleiss Bows out as Company Preps for IPO

Keywords: Nonstore Retailers; Retail Trade

18 Oct 2016
News

Leading the Way for Women Entrepreneurs

they lead.” Hyman expressed some optimism on that front, saying she thinks the startup culture will evolve over the next decade, as more women find success. And she is helping to create that change. Last... View Details

Keywords: Jennifer Myers; Birchbox; Rent the Runway; Hello Alfred; Retail Trade; Finance

01 Sep 2006
News

Project Runway

Stacey Estrella (MBA ’93), a corporate communications executive at a Silicon Valley software firm, started sewing for fun just two years ago. But her beautifully crafted dresses and suits helped her beat out thousands of other hopefuls to earn a slot on View Details

Keywords: Apparel Manufacturing; Manufacturing; Wholesale Trade

June 2023
Case

Rent Control in Boston, Again?

By: Robin Greenwood, Richard S. Ruback, Robert Ialenti and Tom Quinn

This case explores the merits and drawbacks of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s proposal to bring rent control back to the city in 2023. It lays out the features, objectives, and potential unintended consequences of this policy, before highlighting the expected impact of... View Details

Keywords: Renting or Rental; Housing; Urban Development; Policy; Boston; Massachusetts

26 Mar 2019
News

Rent Control

01 Dec 2010
News

Rent Out Your Ride

fleet. A users’ rating system encourages owners to keep cars clean and running well. To date, the service is available only in Boston and Cambridge. Said one owner, who makes about $200 a month from renting... View Details

Keywords: car sharing; Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation; Transportation

07 Nov 2015
News

This Ivy League School is Turning Out Fashion's Hottest Startups

Keywords: Birchbox; Rent the Runway; Gilt Groupe; Stitch Fix; Shoptiques; Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores; Retail Trade

December 2017 (Revised March 2019)
Case

Armarium: Luxury Fashion Brands for Rent

By: Jill Avery, David Fubini, Natasha Dossa and Devon Stewart

Armarium, a two-sided online platform that offered consumers the opportunity to rent the most coveted, current season high fashion clothing and accessories from the top global luxury brands, had emerged from its first sales season with two distinct customer segments:... View Details