More people than ever are turning to secondhand 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 secondhand items increasing in seven of the 10 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 – and furniture saw the biggest growth, with the proportion of people buying and/or selling rising six percentage points YoY to 21%.
There were some major generational differences. Gen Z (18-27) were the most likely to buy or sell secondhand items for all categories except, unsurprisingly, children’s clothing. Meanwhile, Boomers (60-78) drove an increase in the buying and selling of secondhand furniture.
Sophie De Salis, sustainability policy advisor at the British Retail Consortium (BRC), says: “It is great to see so many people, across all generations, embracing the circular economy. Secondhand 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.”
