The UK leads re-commerce, according to a new eBay report

Buying demand for used fashion is strong and increasing, according to eBay's just-released fourth annual “Recommerce Report.”

Released to promote the resale giant's inaugural 'Recommerce Day' “to help drive awareness and interest in re-commerce,” eBay said used and refurbished products now account for 40% of its volume gross merchandise (GMV) worldwide. What's more, its UK market leads the way.

The global report found that while 59% of international consumers bought used goods last year, more than 70% of consumers surveyed plan to buy them this year.

Additionally, consumers ages 18 to 24 are more likely to have purchased used goods in the past 12 months (65%).

It added that nearly half of consumers surveyed agree that buying secondhand is in style by 2024. Meanwhile, the number of clothing, shoes and accessories sold with the word “thrifted” in the description increased by more than 400% in March 2024 compared to March 2023. .

More than two-thirds (64%) of respondents said that buying used products had become more important to them in recent years and 81% of respondents agreed that buying used products had become more common in recent years.

For its specific UK market, 47% of the used items it purchased were clothing items (clothes, shoes, accessories). Around 85% of UK respondents said they had bought used goods in the last 12 months, outperforming the global trend.

Nearly half (45%) choose to buy used goods to save money “so they can prioritize other areas to splurge on and/or if they are looking for a specific item they can't find in new condition.”

More than half (51%) said sustainability is very important to them when it comes to buying used vehicles and 94% overall said it was “very important or somewhat important.”

And 76% of respondents agree that sustainability is becoming more crucial for shoppers each year, while 52% agree that online shopping has increased due to the pandemic.