Cheap chic: Teens embrace secondhand shopping


By AGENCY

Price could be a motivating factor for teens to shop at thrift stores. Photo: AFP Relaxnews

In recent months, environmentally conscious and politically committed members of Gen-Z, who are quite happy with the principle of secondhand, having been buying and selling more and more used goods in the US.

The global market for secondhand items could well enjoy explosive growth in view of its popularity with this highly influential age group, which contributes an annual US$830 billion to retail sales in the US.

Although they are keen to support the preservation of the environment on social networks, are teenagers really ready to demonstrate their commitment to the cause when acting as consumers?

The question is not an easy one, giving the difficulty of analysing such a complex generation, as Eric Briones, co-founder of the Paris School of Luxury and the author of the book "Le choc Z" pointed out in March.

Now a new Piper Sandler study of 7,000 Americans with an average age of 16.1 years has revealed that buying secondhand is becoming "second nature" for Gen-Z teens.

Among the those questioned by the Spring 21 survey, no less than 47% had already bought and 55% had already sold secondhand goods. Not surprisingly then, the survey also notes that teenagers conduct 8% of their purchasing on the secondhand market.

Another important development is the growing popularity of thrift stores and secondhand outlets, which were placed 10th in the ranking of preferred brands and retailers for this generation, as opposed 23rd in a previous iteration of the study last year.

Subscribe now and receive FREE sooka plan for 1 month.
T&C applies.

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

gen-z , teens , secondhand shopping

   

Next In Family

Space to create: These DIY groups empower women to pick up power tools
Starchild: What Malaysian kids think of their role models
When it comes to breast cancer in the US, rate rises but deaths fall
Meet the Malaysian marathon swimmer who pioneered four channel swim routes
Those with lower incomes are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety
When should parents wean off babies from pacifiers?
There are many arguments against using dummies, but not all of them are right
Local author writes guidebook to encourage inclusivity in preschools
Study: Vitamin D in pregnancy improves childhood bone density
In the Middle East, camel racing is experiencing new era with more female riders

Others Also Read