More than half of the UK adult population bought a second-hand item online in the last year – and 47% have sold pre-loved items online in the last 12 months – according to Evri’s inaugural UK Ecommerce Pulse report.
The report shows that it isn’t just the younger generation driving this second-hand e-commerce mega trend – 61% of 35-54 year olds shopped online for pre-loved items in the last 12 months, only slightly less than the 67% of those aged 18-34. However, only 40% of those aged over 55 bought or sold a second-hand item in the last year.
Martijn de Lange, CEO at Evri, said, “The pre-loved revolution in online shopping is still in its infancy and we see a long runway of growth ahead. Whether it is a desire to shop more sustainably, find unique items, or save and make money, consumers have caught the second-hand online shopping bug. The reality is that consumers are finding their own properties and those of others veritable treasure troves of pre-loved items from dresses to tech gadgets – and this is fueling this bargain-hunting phenomenon online.”
Evri’s polling found that one in 10 UK consumers purchase second-hand items several times a month. The findings are supported by Evri’s own data – as it has witnessed first-hand the explosive growth of second-hand platforms, experiencing a 160% year-on-year increase in parcel volumes on these platforms.
Evri’s Pulse also found that thriftiness amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures was cited as the main reason behind the growing demand for pre-loved shopping, as 75% of those surveyed said the need to save cash led them to go bargain-hunting online. The popularity of second-hand sites has also soared as 30% of shoppers enjoy searching for unique items, such as vintage clothing.
Nearly a quarter (24%) of respondents cited sustainability or reduced carbon footprint as a key reason for pre-loved shopping, as consumers have become increasingly aware of the environmental impact of sectors, such as the fast-fashion industry. The research revealed a stark gender divide in attitudes toward the importance of shopping sustainably – while a third of women cited sustainability as a reason for shopping online for pre-loved items, only 18% of male respondents said the same.
For Evri’s Ecommerce Pulse, strategic communications firm FGS Global conducted an extensive poll of 4,012 UK adults, weighted to be nationally representative based on gender, location and ethnicity, between July 15-21, 2024.