The stigma around secondhand gifting is fading away
Photo: ThredUP

With inflation top of mind for many, surveys show consumers are more eager to buy secondhand items as holiday gifts this year to save money.

Deloitte’s “2022 Holiday Retail Survey” found that 32 percent of holiday gifters plan to buy resale items, up from 30 percent in 2021. The top reasons were:

  • To save money overall — 64 percent against 55 percent last year; 
  • To afford something that’s a little nicer — 49 percent versus 38 percent;
  • To be ethical — 43 percent against 42 percent;
  • To try different types of products — 37 percent against 28 percent.

Among surveyed retail execs, 48 planned to sell refurbished or used products this holiday season.

ThredUP’s “Thrift for the Holidays” report found that nearly half of consumers are considering gifting secondhand items this holiday season. The top reasons: searching for savings, 56 percent; wanting to shop more sustainably, 54 percent; and wanting to give a gift that’s unique, 34 percent.

Other factors included 52 percent expressing concerns about the rising prices of popular gifts and one-third believing limited inventory will make it difficult to find gifts. A majority, 62 percent, felt buying secondhand apparel/fashion gifts is more socially acceptable now than five years ago, and two-thirds (72 percent of Gen-Z) were open to receiving a secondhand gift.

A survey from OfferUp, the mobile resale marketplace, found the biggest driving factor in consumer’s willingness to purchase pre-owned holiday gifts was inflation, cited by 51 percent; followed by the need to find out-of-stock gifts, 29 percent; avoiding shipping delays, 27 percent; and avoiding the stress of in-store shopping, 26 percent. Three-quarters were more open to gifting pre-owned items, while 82 percent were more open to receiving pre-owned gifts.

Among retailers expanding resale options is Amazon.com, which in October announced a partnership with reseller What Goes Around Comes Around to bring pre-owned handbags from Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermès and other fashion houses to the site. Amazon Fashion president Muge Erdirik Dogan told WWD, “We are excited to bring Amazon’s joyful shopping experience, convenience, and fast shipping to pre-loved luxury product shopping.”

BrainTrust

“It’s not yet socially acceptable to give used items as gifts. We may be there someday but we’re not there yet.”

Georganne Bender

Principal, KIZER & BENDER Speaking


“In our family, secondhand shopping has become a game. We have a set amount to spend, and the person who comes up with the best holiday gift at that amount wins.”

Jenn McMillen

Chief Accelerant at Incendio & Forbes Contributing Writer


“It’s great that secondhand buying and gifting is now more socially acceptable. But it sounds like the primary motive is inflation/price/value.”

Jeff Sward

Founding Partner, Merchandising Metrics

Discussion Questions

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Are the drivers behind gifting resale items this holiday different from past years? Is the trend more positive than negative for retail?

Poll

Which of the following do you see as the biggest driver of the secondhand gifting trend?

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14 responses to “The stigma around secondhand gifting is fading away”

  1. Neil Saunders Avatar
    Neil Saunders

    There are many drivers of the booming secondhand market, including resale gifting. Some of them like sustainability, finding unique and interesting items, and saving money have been around for a while. However with inflation still running rampant there is now even more emphasis on saving money and finding value for money. All of this is underpinned by a decline in the stigma around giving and receiving secondhand gifts and an expansion of the number of retailers offering resale.

  2. Jeff Sward Avatar
    Jeff Sward

    It’s great that secondhand buying and gifting is now more socially acceptable. But it sounds like the primary motive is inflation/price/value. Any sustainability pluses are a dividend, not a driver. It will be interesting in a year or two when hopefully inflation won’t be an issue. Will sustainability ever rise to be the main motivation in buying and gifting secondhand product?

  3. DeAnn Campbell Avatar
    DeAnn Campbell

    The stigma around used items has faded in part because of economic and environmental concerns, but more because secondhand companies have cracked the customers experience code. When my ThredUp blazer comes carefully wrapped in tissue paper with a gold seal and packaged like it’s brand new, the feeling of buying “used” disappears and the product takes on all the excitement and delight of one that is new.

  4. Georganne Bender Avatar
    Georganne Bender

    Etiquette states that even when you don’t like a gift you should accept it with gratitude.

    Good luck with that.

    It’s human nature to judge the gifts we are given. Before I would ever give a thrifted gift I would need to know that the person I was giving it to would be accepting of such a gift.

    I know people who would be thrilled to receive a thoughtful thrifted gift, and I know others who would be horrified. This is retail pushing a trend. It’s not yet socially acceptable to give used items as gifts. We may be there someday but we’re not there yet.

    1. Craig Sundstrom Avatar
      Craig Sundstrom

      Precisely, Why does it seem like these “the stigma in (whatever) is fading” stories are always a follow-up to an announcement that a seller is now offering (whatever)? Thanks for telling us!

  5. Gene Detroyer Avatar
    Gene Detroyer

    All the reasons noted in the discussion are relevant. However the biggest reason for finding secondhand goods acceptable is the quality of the merchandise. The secondhand merchandise of today is not that cheap junker. It is that refurbished Mercedes that I can now almost afford.

  6. Gary Sankary Avatar
    Gary Sankary

    It’s the gift that matters, not the box it comes in. I love the idea of secondhand gifting, especially for items that are durable and have plenty of use left for the recipient.

  7. Jenn McMillen Avatar
    Jenn McMillen

    In our family, secondhand shopping has become a game. We have a set amount to spend, and the person who comes up with the best holiday gift at that amount wins. With the cost of goods rising tremendously, secondhand is the expected way to go. And win the holiday shopper award!

  8. Jeff Weidauer Avatar
    Jeff Weidauer

    Regifting has been around since gift-giving began – it was just kept quiet. But the combination of rising prices and a greater concern for sustainability have brought it into the light and more acceptable for many.

  9. Ryan Mathews Avatar
    Ryan Mathews

    The resale market, particularly in fashion, has been gaining significantly in terms of respectability and even preference, especially among younger shoppers. My hipster community is full of upscale resale shops, most with upscale pricing. Even the local Salvation Army store calls itself, “Sally’s on Fourth.” As to the motives for seeking out resale gifts, they vary. Cost is obviously critical, as are issues of sustainability. But I think that the notion of the treasure hunt and finding unique, higher quality items can’t – or at least shouldn’t – be overlooked.

  10. Patricia Vekich Waldron Avatar
    Patricia Vekich Waldron

    Why would it matter where one purchases a gift if it is something that the recipient would enjoy?

  11. Doug Garnett Avatar
    Doug Garnett

    In my family we’ve often given secondhand gifts, and have learned there’s a trick. What the survey misses is that the key to these gifts being meaningful to the receiver is that their secondhand nature has to add value. Is it a hard-to-find item! Is it an item no longer made but which is better than the new ones available? There are a lot of positive values to be found in secondhand items other than “I bought it because it was cheap.”

    1. Gene Detroyer Avatar
      Gene Detroyer

      Yes, secondhand gifts may actually be more valuable to the recipient than traditionally store-bought items.

  12. Kenneth Leung Avatar
    Kenneth Leung

    The stigma of secondhand items has faded with the new generation who are used to thrifting to mix and match and for sustainability purposes. Gifting among people with that viewpoint is not an issue and it feels more personal than a gift card. Really it is a matter of the audience in terms of acceptability. From a retailer point of view it is a lost sale but I think given inflation and sustainability trends, it is something retailers have to live with in the long run.

14 Comments
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Neil Saunders
Neil Saunders
Noble Member
10 months ago

There are many drivers of the booming secondhand market, including resale gifting. Some of them like sustainability, finding unique and interesting items, and saving money have been around for a while. However with inflation still running rampant there is now even more emphasis on saving money and finding value for money. All of this is underpinned by a decline in the stigma around giving and receiving secondhand gifts and an expansion of the number of retailers offering resale.

4
Jeff Sward
Jeff Sward
Active Member
10 months ago

It’s great that secondhand buying and gifting is now more socially acceptable. But it sounds like the primary motive is inflation/price/value. Any sustainability pluses are a dividend, not a driver. It will be interesting in a year or two when hopefully inflation won’t be an issue. Will sustainability ever rise to be the main motivation in buying and gifting secondhand product?

3
DeAnn Campbell
DeAnn Campbell
Active Member
10 months ago

The stigma around used items has faded in part because of economic and environmental concerns, but more because secondhand companies have cracked the customers experience code. When my ThredUp blazer comes carefully wrapped in tissue paper with a gold seal and packaged like it’s brand new, the feeling of buying “used” disappears and the product takes on all the excitement and delight of one that is new.

2
Georganne Bender
Georganne Bender
Active Member
10 months ago

Etiquette states that even when you don’t like a gift you should accept it with gratitude.

Good luck with that.

It’s human nature to judge the gifts we are given. Before I would ever give a thrifted gift I would need to know that the person I was giving it to would be accepting of such a gift.

I know people who would be thrilled to receive a thoughtful thrifted gift, and I know others who would be horrified. This is retail pushing a trend. It’s not yet socially acceptable to give used items as gifts. We may be there someday but we’re not there yet.

5
Craig Sundstrom
Craig Sundstrom
Active Member
Reply to  Georganne Bender
10 months ago

Precisely, Why does it seem like these “the stigma in (whatever) is fading” stories are always a follow-up to an announcement that a seller is now offering (whatever)? Thanks for telling us!

1
Gene Detroyer
Gene Detroyer
Trusted Member
10 months ago

All the reasons noted in the discussion are relevant. However the biggest reason for finding secondhand goods acceptable is the quality of the merchandise. The secondhand merchandise of today is not that cheap junker. It is that refurbished Mercedes that I can now almost afford.

2
Gary Sankary
Gary Sankary
Active Member
10 months ago

It’s the gift that matters, not the box it comes in. I love the idea of secondhand gifting, especially for items that are durable and have plenty of use left for the recipient.

3
Jenn McMillen
Jenn McMillen
Member
10 months ago

In our family, secondhand shopping has become a game. We have a set amount to spend, and the person who comes up with the best holiday gift at that amount wins. With the cost of goods rising tremendously, secondhand is the expected way to go. And win the holiday shopper award!

2
Jeff Weidauer
Jeff Weidauer
Member
10 months ago

Regifting has been around since gift-giving began – it was just kept quiet. But the combination of rising prices and a greater concern for sustainability have brought it into the light and more acceptable for many.

2
Ryan Mathews
Ryan Mathews
Active Member
10 months ago

The resale market, particularly in fashion, has been gaining significantly in terms of respectability and even preference, especially among younger shoppers. My hipster community is full of upscale resale shops, most with upscale pricing. Even the local Salvation Army store calls itself, “Sally’s on Fourth.” As to the motives for seeking out resale gifts, they vary. Cost is obviously critical, as are issues of sustainability. But I think that the notion of the treasure hunt and finding unique, higher quality items can’t – or at least shouldn’t – be overlooked.

3
Patricia Vekich Waldron
Patricia Vekich Waldron
Active Member
10 months ago

Why would it matter where one purchases a gift if it is something that the recipient would enjoy?

2
Doug Garnett
Doug Garnett
Member
10 months ago

In my family we’ve often given secondhand gifts, and have learned there’s a trick. What the survey misses is that the key to these gifts being meaningful to the receiver is that their secondhand nature has to add value. Is it a hard-to-find item! Is it an item no longer made but which is better than the new ones available? There are a lot of positive values to be found in secondhand items other than “I bought it because it was cheap.”

3
Gene Detroyer
Gene Detroyer
Trusted Member
Reply to  Doug Garnett
10 months ago

Yes, secondhand gifts may actually be more valuable to the recipient than traditionally store-bought items.

2
Kenneth Leung
Kenneth Leung
Member
10 months ago

The stigma of secondhand items has faded with the new generation who are used to thrifting to mix and match and for sustainability purposes. Gifting among people with that viewpoint is not an issue and it feels more personal than a gift card. Really it is a matter of the audience in terms of acceptability. From a retailer point of view it is a lost sale but I think given inflation and sustainability trends, it is something retailers have to live with in the long run.

1