Product Range Distribution: Reselling

As mentioned in a previous post, the market for reselling used items is an ever growing platform.

The rapid growth in resale sites can be explained by subtle shifts in consumer behaviour, relating to sustainability, brand accessibility and the perception of value, says Tiffany Hogan, senior analyst at Kantar: “Shoppers are still very driven by value, but are increasingly willing to spend more on apparel and accessories to get a high quality product. Resale venues provide an easy way for shoppers to save money on luxury and aspirational brands. In a way, they allow shoppers access to brands that they may never have had the means to own before. There is also an element of sustainability in many of the popular resale sites, which highlights that shopping resale is a great way to reduce your impact on the environment.” - source

For Fabre, the overall key to success is down to technology: “Technology is the biggest opportunity ever for the fashion industry, the digital/mobile is a transversal approach. It has to be organic and natural in the company strategy. It’s about creating a smooth and undisrupted journey for the user.”Tech advances, including social media and the growth of shopping on apps and mobile shopping – mobile accounts for between 60% and 70% of daily traffic to Vestiaire – mean that retailers are observing shifts in the way consumers shop. As ideas of value change, consumers are taking a far more active role in their shopping, and are increasingly running their own wardrobes like businesses. - source

Notable sites such as eBay have been around for years, but recently more sites have been set up that specifically sell in a more modern and accessible way. Sites such as Craigslist (largely American) and Gumtree, as well as apps such as Shpock and Wish make reselling and buying used items easy. In the case of clothing, more specific sites and apps have been created specifically for this market as it is a largely different audience in comparison to buying second hand furniture etc.

In my survey I asked my peers where they had obtained their second hand items from. The respondents chose as many that apply and as well as charity shops and vintage sales, the place they bought from most was Depop. 

Depop
Depop is a resale app that has been downloaded over 3 million times. Described as a cross between eBay and Instagram, it is a young and trendier place to resell used and unwanted clothes. Sellers build themselves a reputation and profile and sell items onwards easily. By displaying items in a grid format, the complication of reselling (eg the bidding element on eBay) is eliminated and the ease of selling increases.

This has opened the market in luxury up to a younger consumer, who can trade their way to the items they covet. This, paired with shifting ideas of style and value, means that rather than following fast fashion, some consumers are turning their attention to resale to build their personal style. - source