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~ DirectLink ~

RECOMMERCE

AN EXTREMELY

FAST-GROWING

E-COMMERCE SECTOR

Text: Olof Källgren // Photos: Depositphotos

Regardless of what we choose to call this phenomenon, second-hand, pre-loved, circular
economy, recommerce or C2C, we can rest assured that it’s here to stay. It’s really nothing
new. People have been reselling things they no longer need for ages through garage sales, flea
markets, and classified ads in newspapers or on billboards.

ut with the spectacular development of over half of the consumers in a recent study stated that they
the internet and the total breakthrough of purchased second-hand items for environmental reasons and
Be-commerce, the conditions for effective to make the most of products that would otherwise have been
recommerce have undergone a metamorphosis and thrown away. Largely for this reason, the second-hand apparel
have become an incredibly fast-growing e-commerce market has seen a dramatic increase in sales. The global
sector. Through Direct Link – part of PostNord second-hand clothing market is now projected to generate
annually conducting studies of the development 77 billion U.S. dollars in revenue by 2025, up from 27
of e-commerce, we have gained deep knowledge billion U.S. dollars in 2022. Besides, people have been more
of consumer behaviour and general conditions concerned about the way in which clothes are manufactured.
for e-commerce in many different markets and Therefore, sustainability has become a leading factor in their
segments. To meet the accelerating demands, Direct fashion purchasing decisions compared with previous years.
Link has tailored offers to each country and region’s
specific situation, which includes customs clearance Consumers favour mindful and sustainable brands and are
and delivery options depending on weight, value and shifting to brands that operate with more social and ethical
specific commercial needs. values. As second-hand fashion allows consumers to buy
timeless items in a sustainable way and at a comparatively
The appeal of second-hand apparel low cost, it is expected that the post-pandemic apparel
Clothing and footwear were among the first product market will be driven by second-hand fashion. By the end of
categories to be sold online when the internet slowly began 2023, it is estimated that this market will account for 27%
to make its commercial triumph in the mid-1990s, and the of consumers’ wardrobes worldwide. Younger generations,
category remains the top purchased online in most markets in particular, have shifted their purchasing patterns and are
around the world. It has by far retained its position even as a more open to buying used clothes.
second-hand product. In large markets like the United States,
the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Brazil, clothing Offline channels have historically dominated the second-hand
tops the list of what online consumers buy second-hand. market, but with the general growth in e-commerce, online
is set to outpace offline. In the United States, where the
The second-hand apparel market has historically had quite a resale market is one of the most mature, the value of online
strong presence due to its low cost. However, in recent years, second-hand channels is projected to surpass offline channels
consumers have been using their buying power to make more by 2026. According to the Statista Global Consumer Survey,
thoughtful decisions about where their money goes. Well around half of online consumers in Germany and Sweden

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