TrenLend
Find the Perfect Outfit
Amelia Zahn and Emmy Weiland met as sophomores at NC State University a few years ago and became fast friends. At one point, they began conversations about creative income opportunities. We live in the time of “side hustles,” which means that people explore means of income that may not completely cover their bills or sustain their livelihood, but it enables them to pursue a business venture that interests them and benefits them financially. An idea that piqued their interest involved dresses: As college students, they were constantly attending events that required them to dress up; they regularly purchased new dresses for these events. “Our bank accounts were running low, and we were frustrated with buying more things we would only wear once. We tried using online rental companies, but we would end up dissatisfied when the clothes didn’t fit, wasting our time and money,” Amelia explains.
Amelia and Emmy saw a need in their demographic for something new, and in 2022, their company TrenLend was born. TrenLend started as an in-person rental company that allowed customers to try on clothes before renting them. Amelia and Emmy rented out their dresses and their friends’ dresses, and they kept a percentage of each rental to grow their inventory. Customers would go to their sorority house to try things on and leave with clothes that they felt good in for a rental fee that they felt good about. “When we started, we had no intention of it becoming this big!” says Emmy. By early 2023, they established an LLC. The business had grown so much that they rented warehouse space. In August 2023, they opened their first storefront in Cary, NC. Emmy and Amelia graduated in May 2024, and by August 2024, they opened their second storefront in Raleigh.
TrenLend’s mission is to transform the way people approach fashion by providing convenient clothing rental services within the local community. They believe that everyone deserves access to a diverse and ever-evolving wardrobe, without the burden of ownership.
So, how does it work? Customers can visit either storefront location to see what is in stock and available to rent or visit their website if you are not close to a store (they ship!). The piece can be picked up at the store or shipped for a small fee. At the end of the rental period, customers can return it to the store, place it in the drop box outside of the store, or ship it back. Their website has an FAQ section that explains more.
Emmy Weiland and Amelia Zahn (l. to r.) started TrenLend when they were students at NC State University. Their idea to provide convenient clothing rentals has taken off and they now have two locations. 
Emmy and Amelia credit their families for their success. Both were raised in entrepreneurial households, so the desire for success and autonomy was instilled in them at young ages. “Our parents have been the backbone of our success. Not only are they great mentors in business, but they are also supportive of us as their daughters. They’re very happy that we created a business that we’re passionate about that also fills a unique niche,” says Amelia.
When TrenLend began, its customer demographic was almost all college students, so the styles didn’t vary too much. Since opening the storefronts, they have seen a shift: about half of their clients are college students, but the other half are women from high school age into their 60s. Emmy and Amelia have truly enjoyed incorporating more styles that all ages can wear. “It’s really fun to have a client who may come in and say, ‘No, that style looks too young for me’, but then she tries it on, and her perspective changes because, not only does it look amazing, but she also feels amazing,” Emmy shares.
One of Amelia’s favorite parts of the business is the buying. Like a regular retailer, they go to market in New York City when the designers present their upcoming new styles. They have the opportunity to see what will be released in the coming months and order pieces for their collection. They currently offer about 250 styles in a variety of sizes, and inventory will grow as they have more space.
Looking to the future, Emmy and Amelia are excited about the idea of opening more storefronts. They both love the local aspect of the business. “There’s something really special about creating a relationship between the customers and sales associates,” says Amelia. For now, they are focused on sharpening their processes to ensure the logistics work for their clients and for the business. The reality that all inventory leaves the stores AND comes back to the stores requires a lot of precision and attention. In the near future, they are considering warehouse space for shipping purposes, instead of managing shipping at the stores. In addition, they are exploring ways to use their rental data to help them make data-driven purchasing decisions.
At the core of it all, they say that they would not be where they are with two storefronts without the relationship with TowneBank and Patsy Johnson, Cary president. “TowneBank believed in us from the start,” says Emmy. “They communicate so well and are incredibly supportive. We recommend Towne to any small business looking to grow.”
For more information, visit TrenLend.com.