From sofas to smartphones: second-hand shopping surges
More people than ever are turning to second-hand products, according to the latest survey data by BRC-Opinium. This is the second year the survey has been conducted, with the proportion of people saying they had either bought or sold second hand items increasing in seven of the ten item categories measured.
This growth is unsurprising, with online platforms and the abundance of charity shops making buying and selling pre-loved items more accessible than ever. Furniture saw the biggest growth, with the proportion of people buying and/or selling rising 6 percentage points to 21%. This was followed by smaller electronics, such as phones and laptops, which rose 4 percentage points
Adult clothing was the most popular second-hand items, with 43% of respondents saying they had bought and/or sold items these items, however, this was down on 45% from last year. The other categories to report falls were footwear and children’s clothing, suggesting the second hand market for clothing may have become saturated.
There were also some major generational differences. Gen Z (18-27) were the most likely to buy or sell second-hand items for all categories except, unsurprisingly, children’s clothing. The last year also saw a big increase in the proportion of Gen Z who had bought or sold pre-loved small electronics, such as smartphones and laptops. Meanwhile, Boomers (60-78) saw an increase in the buying and selling of second-hand furniture.
Sophie De Salis, sustainability policy advisor at the British Retail Consortium, said: “It is great to see so many people, across all generations, embracing the circular economy. Second-hand is no longer seen as second best. It has become a first choice for sustainability, affordability and individuality. With many retailers now offering their own pre-loved collections, and so many great resale platforms, online marketplaces and charity shops – customers are spoilt for choice.”
Neill O’Sullivan, managing director of parcels and mails at Post Office: “We’ve seen the surge in demand as customers rush to the second-hand market to find affordable products, or bring in some extra cash by offloading unloved items.
“In the fast-moving world of second-hand shopping, Post Office understands that quick, secure delivery is key to customers. Whether you’re buying or selling, our branches are a one-stop shop – offering a range of delivery partners and friendly postmasters to advise on the best option. For online sellers in need of a streamlined solution, our fast-track Drop & Go service lets customers drop off parcels to be weighed and labelled by our branch teams.`
“This means the second-hand savvy can make the most of this growing market, without the stress.”