How Anisha Kapur Shetty Brings Joy To Kids Through Sustainability

Anisha Kapur Shetty, Founder and CEO of My Thrift Baby Loot, won SheThePeople's Digital Women Award 2024 under the Impact category with her dedicated work that created an easy-to-use platform where parents can buy, sell, or donate the products their kids have used and outgrown. At My Thrift Baby Loot, the mission is to make top-quality baby essentials accessible to moms without compromising on quality or breaking the bank.

By helping parents declutter and make value out of products they no longer need, other parents can purchase these essentials at a much lower price than the market rate, thus saving money. This initiative promotes the concept of reuse and sustainability, creating a circular ecosystem and increasing each product’s lifespan, thereby reducing its carbon footprint.

In conversation with Anisha Kapur Shetty

What roles do you play at My Thrift Baby Loot, and what drives you toward this goal?

I am the Founder and CEO of My Thrift Baby Loot, a platform where parents can buy, sell, or donate products their kids have used and outgrown. We promote the concept of reuse, build a sustainable ecosystem, and work to reduce carbon footprints.

As a mother of two, I deeply connect and resonate with many moms through our social media platform. This shared bond drives me to create a venture that satisfies both kids and the environment.

How did you use digital platforms and tools to build your business?

We are using technology to unite India into one sharing community. By offering individual dashboards, a single point of contact, and doorstep pick-ups, we strive to make thrifting a seamless experience. This innovative platform provides parents with an alternative way to save and earn money.

Through further technological advancements, we plan to add more features to our platform that will enhance the individual experience and provide rewards for adopting a sustainable lifestyle.

How do you envision your future with My Thrift Baby Loot?

Considering just kids’ clothing, 29% of India’s 1.2 billion population is under the age of 14, making India a massive market for children’s clothing. The kidswear market size in India is currently estimated at ₹13,000 crores.

While the secondhand clothing market in India is still developing, global trends show significant potential. In the United States, secondhand apparel accounts for approximately 12% of the total apparel market. Assuming a conservative 10% penetration in India, the secondhand kids’ apparel market size could reach around ₹1,300 crores.

Moreover, the growth potential is immense. Globally, the secondhand fashion market is projected to grow by 127% by 2026. Our target market is even broader, as we provide a marketplace not just for preloved kids' clothes but also for accessories like highchairs, strollers, cots, toys, books, and much more.

What does your business model look like?

We are a marketplace for parents seeking alternate, affordable shopping options for their kids. We charge a nominal listing fee and a commission on the sale of each product sold through us. Additionally, we offer paid options for reposting or express posting of products on our platform.

Can you share the funding you started your business with?

We have bootstrapped our venture to create a space that meets the needs of both the environment and children.

What are the key challenges you faced in this journey?

Starting a business isn’t easy, and My Thrift Baby Loot was no exception. From sourcing high-quality items to building a brand that resonates with customers and developing the technology to scale our platform, the journey has been full of learning experiences.

We faced challenges like overcoming the stigma around ‘pre-loved’ baby products and ensuring the highest standards of cleanliness and quality. Logistics and bootstrapping the business also posed significant hurdles. However, tackling these obstacles has made us stronger and more committed to our mission.