UK’s secondhand market skyrockets in 2020

The equivalent weight of 900 double-decker buses has been saved fromlandfill, thanks to purchases of pre-loved items this year, according todata from eBay, as sales of secondhand fashion soared during lockdown.

The data reveals that two secondhand fashion items were sold everythree-seconds between January and July this year on eBay, as consumerslooked for more sustainable fashion options, due to the pandemic lockdown.

The marketplace notes that lockdown gave consumers more time to reflecton their shopping habits, and that has led to 12 million people in the UKpurchasing a pre-loved item in 2020 so far, with eBay adding that therehave been 30 percent more secondhand sales in June 2020, compared to March,and 1,211 percent more preloved sales than at the same time in 2018.

Overall, there has been a 404 percent year-on-year increase in pre-lovedsales since 2018, and in 2020, as many pre-loved items as there are peoplein the UK (66 million), went to a new home in 2020 and extended theirlifecycle.

British consumer are leading the way for change, topping the globalleaderboard, scoring 117 percent more second-hand sales in 2020 thanshoppers in the US.

Emma Grant, head of preloved at eBay said in a statement: “It seems thatlockdown ultimately sped up the transition to a greatersustainability-conscious society, as eBay witnessed more pre-loved listingsand sales post-lockdown, compared to before.

“With people’s wallets becoming tighter, an uneasiness about going outshopping, and after some time away from the materialism of day-to-daynormality, the nation was more in tune than ever with charities, smallbusinesses and caring for the planet.”

Shoppers turn to secondhand clothing during lockdown

When it comes to what people are buying, eBay adds that the nation hasbecome “dramatically more willing to invest in quality pieces” and in 2020,there have been 195,691 percent more purchases for pre-loved high-enddesigner fashion items than two years ago.

In particular, brands known for their sustainable offerings, such asStella McCartney, witnessing significantly more sales of their products oneBay this year. When it comes to other luxury brands selling on eBay, Guccileads the way, followed by Burberry, Vivienne Westwood, Chanel, and Prada.Completing the top 10 luxury brands are Louis Vuitton, Dolce and Gabbana,Moncler, Christian Dior and Balenciaga.

Gen Z are the real trailblazers, added eBay, with secondhand purchasesfor some of their favourite brands, including Champion and Fila, higherthan last year by 55 percent and 41 percent, respectively.

Topping the chart of high street brands selling as pre-loved items oneBay is Nike, followed by Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss, H&M, Calvin Klein, TommyHilfiger, Puma, Laura Ashley, North Face and Levi’s.

Secondhand shoppers have also turned to independent retailers, with 28percent more second-hand purchases coming from small and medium businesseson eBay, than from larger retailers in 2020.

This shift the marketplace added was fuelled by lockdown as Britsshopped 36 percent more from small businesses in June-July thanFebruary-March.

The report nation’s sustainable shopping habits has been released tocelebrate Oxfam’s Second Hand September campaign, which runs all month andencourages Britons to pledge to shop only second-hand for 30 days or moreto stop clothes from going to landfill.

Oxfam's Sustainability Expert, Fee Gilfeather, said: “One of the fewpositives to come out of this pandemic is the opportunity to break oldhabits and build a fairer and more sustainable future.For this year’s Second Hand September campaign, we’re asking people to shopsecond hand for the month or more.

“eBay’s research shows that people are shopping second hand online morethan ever, which is great for the environment. We hope that even morepeople will choose second hand this month and take the opportunity tosupport our work fighting poverty and helping communities to protectthemselves from coronavirus.”

Grant, added: “Celebrating Second Hand September with Oxfam is a greatopportunity to keep the green recovery front of mind and ensure that we allplay our part to reduce fast fashion where possible.”

Image: Pexels