eBay U.K. has announced a new partnership with the textile fulfillment company Advanced Clothing Solutions (ACS). U.K.-based ACS – now B Corp-certified – is an expert in reselling, cleaning and repairing garments to expand the online marketplace’s second-hand offering and reduce waste in the fashion industry. The announcement comes on the heels of a new study by eBay that reveals a growing resale trend in the U.K.: According to the survey, more and more cost-conscious and environmentally conscious consumers are choosing to buy and sell second-hand clothing. Nearly nine in ten (87%) of U.K. adults surveyed said they had bought a second-hand item in the last 12 months, while more than six in ten (63%) said they had sold a second-hand item. So far, this trend has also translated into sales, with eBay reporting one second-hand fashion sale per second in 2022.
The partnership between ACS and eBay is intended to help more brands and retailers create and rapidly expand resale listings while giving eBay U.K.’s more than 20 million customers a wider choice of second-hand merchandise. The first retail partner to use ACS’ eBay store is Monsoon, with other well-known brands to follow. ACS cleans, sanitizes and repairs second-hand items to prepare them for resale and handles the logistics of item listing and delivery. The eBay platform will provide these items to millions of buyers worldwide.
The partnership aims to capitalize on the growing trend of second-hand trading, driven by the rising cost of living and growing concerns about environmental impact. eBay U.K. surveyed U.K. adults, asking about their experiences and motivations for buying second-hand goods. The top reasons were “to get a better deal or a bargain” (32%), “to reduce spending,” and “the rising cost of living” (both 31%), followed by a desire to live more “sustainably” (26%).
As the “resale economy” gains momentum and the supply of items increases, consumers increasingly prefer used to new. One in four (25%) of U.K. adults surveyed said that the increased supply of second-hand items was a key reason for buying used. However, the survey also found that there are barriers to second-hand goods becoming popular. Concerns about hygiene (51%), the safety of used goods (35%), quality (28%) and counterfeit or inauthentic goods (27%) are the main reasons for not buying used goods. The new partnership aims to eliminate some of these misconceptions in the used goods market. Stringent quality controls, the latest technology in sanitization and high repair standards are expected to help build buyer confidence and encourage more shoppers to choose used goods.
This is the latest move by eBay to prevent fashion items from ending up in landfills. It builds on the launch of eBay’s Imperfects hub earlier this year, which allows shoppers to buy clothing, shoes and accessories that are considered new with defects but can’t be sold at full price, and Brand Outlet, eBay’s dedicated destination for buying the end-of-season stock at up to 70% off.
