Coworking with Emily Hosie

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Emily Hosie led merchandising at TJX before founding overstock marketplace Rebel.

How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t work in retail? I lead Rebel, where we take never-used returns and overstock from top retailers and turn them into the kind of deals that make you stop and think, “How can these prices be real?” We work with retailers to acquire returned and excess stock, often brand new, and resell it across 87 different categories like home, kitchen, wellness, baby, and more. Every product is quality checked, so what you’re getting is real value, not a gamble. At its heart, it’s a win-win: Shoppers save big, and retailers recover value from inventory that would otherwise sit unsold, or worse, end up in a landfill.

One thing we can’t guess about your job from your LinkedIn profile? That behind every “Wait, how is this such a deal?” moment is a pretty complex operation. We’ve built a tech system that handles everything from large-scale returns processing to inspecting every single item, to pricing it competitively before it ever goes live. It’s part retail, part supply chain, part tech, but day to day, it just feels like solving a lot of interesting problems and trying to make the experience amazing for customers.

What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on? Rebel, without hesitation. We started processing returns at scale in baby gear and have grown into a multi-category platform across home, kitchen, and lifestyle. Seeing this expansion and growth has been really rewarding, but what’s stuck with me most is the impact. We’re now diverting over 50 million pounds of product from going to waste every year. That’s when it stops feeling like “just retail.” Building the team has been just as meaningful. We have people across the company who are constantly pushing the business forward in ways that are often smarter than I would on my own, which is exactly what you want.

Which emerging retail trend are you most excited about right now, and why? The growing overlap between conscious consumerism and value-driven shopping. People aren’t just asking what something costs anymore, they’re thinking more about what it took to make it, and whether buying it is actually the right choice. That’s a meaningful shift. What’s interesting is that off-price naturally sits at that intersection. You’re getting premium products at a real discount, but you’re also giving returns a second chance instead of letting them go to waste. At Rebel, that’s not a side effect; it’s really the point. The best version of conscious consumerism shouldn’t feel like a trade-off. It should just feel like you’re shopping smarter.

What’s your go-to coffee order? I’ve actually never had coffee, not even a sip, so I couldn’t tell you what it tastes like.

Worst piece of advice you’ve received? That founders should “step back” as the company scales. I think you do have to evolve, but I don’t think you should disconnect from any driving division. Staying close to the business, understanding how things actually work, is what keeps you grounded and helps you make better decisions. At Rebel, we expect everyone to stay scrappy and focused on value. That definitely includes me.

What was your favorite retail product when you were 15, and what’s your favorite retail product now? At 15, I think I was already an old soul. I’ve always valued having less, but better. I had three paper routes from a young age, and I’d rather save up for something original or well-made. I also loved the thrill of finding a great deal. Honestly, not much has changed. I still care about things that are thoughtfully made, actually get used, and bring people together. Outside of work, I host mahjong girls’ nights, so anything that elevates that experience—good tableware, a well-set space, the right lighting—is always top of mind. At 15 and now, I’m chasing what feels good—ideally at a great price.