Buying used clothing is new norm; luxury has biggest room to grow
Secondhand shopping has moved well past thrift-store clothing reveals a new report on how U.S. consumers shop, spend and think about buying used goods.
The overwhelming majority (76%) of Americans bought something secondhand in the past 12 months, and 89% have done so at some point, according to a survey by consumer insights and advisory firm The Consumer Collective. Also, 44% are buying more secondhand than they did two years ago, including 66% of Gen Z.
Luxury resale shows the clearest room to grow, led by younger shoppers, the survey revealed. More than half (61%) of Gen Z and 60% of millennials already buy luxury items used or would consider it, compared with 27% of those 62 and older. Condition and authenticity top the list of concerns about buying luxury used.
Clothing remains the entry point for resale — 71% of shoppers have bought used clothing. But for the next year, consumer shopping plans extend into furniture, electronics and books.
"Enthusiasm around secondhand shopping started in clothes, but is spreading to more categories," said Allison Collins, co-founder of The Consumer Collective. "Brands that treat resale as a side market are missing where their customers already shop."
Other findings from Consumer Collective’s "Second Nature: The State of Secondhand Shopping in America" report are below:
•In-person shopping still wins out over online: 54% of consumers prefer buying secondhand in a physical store, 18% prefer online and 28% like both equally. Shoppers who like both spend the most, with about one-in-three spending $500 or more on secondhand goods in the past year.
•Few shoppers assume new means better. Just 11% said brand-new offers better value; 34% said secondhand does and half said it depends on the category.
•Millennials (89%) and Gen Z (85%) lead in secondhand buying in the past year, versus 59% of Americans 62 and older.
