New demands for holiday gifts from U.S. consumers in December, with resale products gaining traction

For consumers who want to reduce consumption during the December holidays or hope to buy their favorite gifts, resale items may meet their needs, and this year's supply chain delays have also provided additional motivation for resale items .

"Gift giving, at its core, should be thoughtful and thoughtful, and it can be argued that finding a meaningful, fun second-hand gift for someone takes more thought than just clicking the 'buy' button and getting something off Amazon, " said sustainability expert Ashlee Piper .

Regarding a worn copy of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes that her friend found at a thrift store for $2 , Piper said it was one of her favorite gifts. It was quirky , thoughtful and completely unique .

Industry reports show the resale market spans all age groups , but recent growth has been driven primarily by Gen Z and millennial shoppers.

“People have a new appreciation for the value of some resale products,” said Marshal Cohen, consumer behavior and retail analyst at The NPD Group. “Gray market sales of new and used items are now reaching new heights, and getting something that others only dream of is the new form of luxury.”

ThredUp , the online thrifting giant that went public earlier this year , saw gift card sales increase 103% in the first two weeks of December compared with all of November, said Erin Wallace, vice president of integrated marketing .

As more retailers offer reselling as an option, tech middlemen are stepping in to help. One company, List Perfectly, provides resellers with tools that let them cross-post their items on 11 marketplaces.

"Resale doesn't necessarily mean secondhand. Many resellers resell new items that are currently scarce because they have planned their inventory for months to accommodate holiday shopping," said Clara Albornoz, co-founder and CEO

Another company, Recurate, enables brands to create their own resale platforms on their websites.

"Recurate's sales during the week of Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday were more than 50% higher than average," said Karin Dillie, vice president of partnerships. Customers are seeking out resale items both to satisfy their curiosity and to buy as gifts, she said.

USA

Resale of goods