eBay store
At age 22 while working as a security guard at San Francisco's Academy of Art University, [14] Amoruso opened an online eBay store, which she called Nasty Gal Vintage, named after the 1975 album by funk singer and style icon Betty Davis. [11] [15] The store consisted of used vintage clothing and other items. The first item she sold was a book she had stolen as a teenager. [12] She styled, photographed, captioned, and shipped the products herself using what she was taught in a photography class. [15]
Amoruso began her business working out of her bedroom. [16] In 2006, her eBay store Nasty Gal Vintage grew considerably, turning into a 1 million dollar yearly revenue business after 6 years and continuing to grow. [17] Amoruso claims to have been banned from eBay in 2008 for posting hyperlinks in feedback to customers. Following this, she launched Nasty Gal as its own retail website, [18] continuing to grow the business as a stand-alone online store. She has previously stated that she left voluntarily because of the rules preventing sellers from leaving negative feedback for customers. [19] Amoruso was also accused of artificially inflating bids, which she has denied. [20]
Nasty Gal
Nasty Gal developed an online following of young women on social media. It quickly grew with revenues increasing from $223,000 in 2008 to almost $23 million in 2011. [2] At the peak of Nasty Gal, it was pulling in 100 million in annual sales, with over 200 employees. [21] The New York Times has called her "a Cinderella of tech". [15] In 2013, Inc. Magazine named her to its 30 under 30 list. [22] Also, in 2013, Business Insider named Sophia Amoruso one of the sexiest CEOs alive. [23]
In 2014, Amoruso's autobiography #GIRLBOSS was published by Portfolio, a Penguin imprint that specializes in books about business. [24] [25] In 2016, it was announced that Netflix would be adapting her autobiography into a television series called Girlboss . [26] Amoruso confirms most of the show was accurate to her life. It was cancelled after one season, as it got a sour response from viewers, saying it was a call to millennial narcissists. [27] [28]
In an interview with Dan Schawbel of Forbes, Amoruso admitted that she was unprepared for the demands of being a CEO, having had no previous leadership experience, and advised that people seeking to launch a business first gain managerial experience at established companies. [29]
On January 12, 2015, Amoruso announced she was stepping down as CEO of Nasty Gal, knowing the company could not continue under the current leadership. [30] In November 2016, the company was reported to be filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, with Amoruso resigning as executive chairwoman. [31] The reason for this bankruptcy can be pointed to leadership changes, a "toxic work culture", and poor communication, among other faults. [32] February 2017, Boohoo Group purchased Nasty Gal for $20 million, with Nasty Gal remaining in Los Angeles and continuing to produce apparel, shoes, and accessories under its own brand. [33]
In December 2017, Amoruso founded Girlboss Media(#girlboss), a company that creates editorial content, videos, and podcasts aimed at a female audience. [34] Since 2017, Amoruso has held Girlboss Rallies, which are weekend-long instructional events for young entrepreneurs for around $500-$1400. [35]
