We recently connected with Kimberly Guerra and have shared our conversation below.

Kimberly, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Let’s start with our mission: Retrofit Social is committed to promoting secondhand fashion as a sustainable choice, working to minimize its environmental impact and contribute to a greener future. Our goal is to break the stigma around pre-owned clothing and cultivate a more eco-conscious marketplace—because that’s where society is heading!
I used to pay little attention to my consumption habits. I was the type of shopper who constantly bought new items simply because I wanted them. But as I began educating others, I became more mindful of my choices and the environmental impact they carry. Years ago, I worked as a Recycling Coordinator, teaching students, customers, and the community about environmental issues, sustainability practices, and providing education on recycling, waste management, and natural resources.
For many people, the environmental impact of consumption is out of sight, out of mind—until you see photos of the waste we produce and understand its effects. With rising concerns about climate change and endangered species, I decided to embrace conscious consumption in late 2021. While I’m not saying I’ll never buy something new again, my habits have changed significantly, extending beyond fashion to all aspects of my purchases.
Now, I proudly repeat outfits and wear my clothes for years. In 2023, I made just one new fashion purchase. I was proud of my self. I deeply care about natural resources, animals, and people, and it feels good knowing I’m doing my part to make the world a better place.
I want people to realize that you don’t need a brand-new outfit for every occasion, and if you do, there are more sustainable options. Thrifting isn’t about being cheap or broke—it’s a reflection of care for the planet and others, not just yourself.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I always knew I wanted to own a business someday, but back then, I didn’t know myself or my passions, which made it hard to develop a clear idea for many years. Initially, I pursued a Bachelor’s in Science at university, but I later shifted to business and earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Business with a concentration in Human Resource Management. Despite my education, I felt like a generalist rather than an expert in any specific area, which left me uncertain about starting a business. Over time, I realized you don’t need to be an expert—you just need to take the leap.

After more years of reflection, I decided I wanted to open a clothing and accessory boutique. But I couldn’t ignore the fact that it would mean contributing more products to an already over-saturated and wasteful world. That’s when I combined my passion for the environment with my love of fashion, and Retrofit Social was born.

Retrofit Social addresses the problem of overconsumption and its environmental impact by encouraging mindful consumer habits, particularly in fashion. Perfectly good clothing shouldn’t be wasted simply because someone’s style or size has changed. Our mission is to give pre-loved garments a second chance to be worn and cherished.

Retrofit Social is my commitment to sustainability and the belief that waste reduction starts with individual actions. Our digital thrift boutique connects shoppers with high-quality, gently-used clothing and accessories, including men’s and women’s apparel, handbags, jewelry, and shoes. We take pride in cleaning, sanitizing, and preparing our items so customers can enjoy them immediately, saving them time and effort.

Through Retrofit Social, shoppers can refresh their wardrobes with vintage, retro, and modern pieces without breaking the bank or adding to the waste stream. By leveraging innovative technology and services, we aim to provide a modern, eco-conscious shopping experience. We’re dedicated to building a better future for our community and the planet. With numerous ideas and plans for the future, we’re just getting started.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Where to start? Lol. There were so many obstacles along the way. When you think about it in a general sense, it sounds simple—have products, post them on a website, and sell. I knew it wouldn’t be *that* easy, but I also didn’t realize just how tedious it would be.

For the website, I initially hired a freelancer to help set it up, but I quickly realized I couldn’t afford to pay someone for every little update. With products constantly coming and going, I knew I had to learn to manage the platform myself. I started watching YouTube tutorials, and some days, that’s all I did for the business. It was time-consuming, but I learned a lot.

Then came everything else I hadn’t thought about—privacy policies, refund policies, terms and conditions, FAQs, shipping policies, and more. I had to figure out what would work best for my business. On top of that, there was creating content for each page, sourcing and editing photos, taking product pictures, uploading them to the site, writing detailed descriptions, and managing social media content. The list felt never-ending.

Without a team to share the workload, it became overwhelming. At one point, I took a long break and stopped working on it altogether. I felt stressed, like I’d hit my limit, and didn’t know how to move forward. Looking back, maybe that break was necessary—it gave me a chance to step back and think with a fresh perspective.

Eventually, I found my motivation again and started working on it piece by piece. Now, my website is fully functional, and I handle most of the updates and tasks myself. It’s been a challenging journey, but I’m proud of how far I’ve come.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I used credit cards and personal savings to fund my business, covering expenses like purchasing a laptop, paying freelancers, and handling various fees. Operating online instead of opening a brick-and-mortar store helped reduce costs significantly. Knowing I’d be working alone for the first few years without the budget for employees, this setup worked well for me.

To source secondhand products, I reached out to family and friends, asking if they had clothes they no longer needed and would be willing to donate. I made the process as simple as possible for them—all they had to do was pack up the items and schedule a convenient day and time for me to pick them up. I drove as far as Dallas and frequently to San Antonio to collect donations. My first haul included around 150 items, a combination of donations from both family and friends.

Word began to spread among their acquaintances, making it easier for me to acquire inventory without having to approach strangers directly—a relief since I’m an introvert and find those interactions challenging. This method worked well and remains my primary way of sourcing inventory. Today, about 90% of my inventory is donated, though I occasionally visit garage sales or thrift stores to fill gaps when certain items are running low.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://retrofitsocial.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retrofitsocial/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Retrofitsocial

Image Credits

I, Kimberly Guerra, own these photos.