7 tips for boosting your business as pre-loved purchasing continues to rise

[community-team@ebay]

The UK’s cost-of-living crisis is continuing to dominate the news headlines, as energy bills, fuel, and food prices climb at an alarming rate.

As we approach the biggest shopping moment of the year, consumers are having to do what they can to make ends meet, and increasing numbers are turning to second-hand shopping and upcycling this year in order to get more bang for their buck. 

Research from eBay Ads supports this, with its findings that 30% of consumers are having to make more considered purchases in order to get better value for money, and a fifth (19%) report buying more second-hand items in order to save money.

But the surge in pre-loved purchasing isn’t being driven solely by cash-strapped shoppers, it’s also being prompted by a wider growth of the circular economy. For example, eBay Ads’ research found that almost a fifth (19%) of consumers report that shopping as sustainably as possible is really important to them. More than one in five (22%) also say they’re conscious of discarding and sending items to landfill when they could be repaired, recycled or resold - and 19% said that they try to avoid fast fashion brands or brands that they consider to be unethical.

Our partnership with Love Island to dress islanders in pre-loved items highlighted just how much second-hand shopping is entering the mainstream. In fact, latest figures show that eBay.co.uk has seen 700% more searches for ‘pre-loved’ fashion since the announcement of the partnership, and Google has reported 750% more searches for ‘eBay pre-loved clothes.’

Clearly this is a key movement to tap into - both for businesses to be doing their bit when it comes to looking after the planet, and in terms of driving their own commercial success. 

So, what can small business sellers do to tap into the pre-loved movement?

1. Incorporate pre-loved items into your inventory as a focus - If you don’t already sell second-hand items as part of your business, now would be a great time to try it out! It doesn’t have to be the key part of your offering, but why not try adding some pre-loved items to your inventory and let your customers know about it, to see how they do? 

1. Include terms such as ‘upcycled’, ‘refurbished’, ‘vintage’ and ‘pre-loved’ in your listings to make sure they get in front of shoppers as interest in second-hand shopping continues to rise. In January 2022 searches for ‘upcycled’ rose 40% on ebay.co.uk compared to the month before, as did searches for ‘pre-owned’ (38%) and ‘second hand’ (24%) - showing just how beneficial this could be for your business!

1. Be detailed in your item descriptions and honest about any defects or wear and tear - Of course when shoppers buy pre-loved they aren’t expecting box-fresh products, but it’s important to be honest about an item’s condition so customers feel satisfied with their purchase when it arrives. This limits the risk of unhappy customers or items being returned.

1. Take high quality photos that showcase your items clearly - To build on the above, make sure you include high quality photos of your pre-loved items in natural light that shows any defects. Again, this will mean that customers are informed when buying an item - and that you’re really showing off the products you have to offer!

1. Share your item’s story - People often buy pre-loved as they seek items with a quirky history that’s removed from mass-produced products anyone can buy. Any details you can add on your listing’s history - such as ‘Victorian era’ or ‘originally built for a school in the 1930s’ - will really help it stand out.

1. Keep your price point competitive - Of course ensuring the margins are sustainable for your business is key, but it’s equally as important to make sure your price point is competitive. As mentioned, a key reason people look to buy pre-loved is to save money, and your prices should reflect this.

1. Try to make your packaging as sustainable as possible when sending your orders - As a key driver of the rise in pre-loved purchasing is down to shoppers’ desire to be more eco-friendly, making your entire offering more green with recycled/recyclable packaging could be a nice way to drive further engagement with your business.

As buying second-hand is only rising on shoppers’ agendas, now would be a great time to try out some of the above and get involved in the movement. We understand that the cost-of-living criss may be causing a difficult time for some of our sellers, and we want to do everything we can to help. 

For more tips and advice on how to protect your business during this time, please click here. 

If you are a pre-loved item seller and have any advice for other people looking to tap into the market, please share in the comments below!