eBay has announced a new partnership with clothing resale, sanitisation and repair company ACS to expand the online marketplace’s second-hand offering and help reduce waste in the fashion industry.
Almost nine in 10 (87%) UK adults surveyed said they have bought an item second-hand in the past twelve months, while more than six in 10 (63%) say they have sold a second-hand item. So far this trend is translating into sales, with eBay reporting one second-hand fashion sale every second so far in 2022.
The move follows new research from eBay which showed there is a “growing resale economy” in the UK. It also showed that 9 in 10 UK adults surveyed said they have bought an item second-hand in the past year, while more than 6 in 10 said they have sold a second-hand item.
eBay says that this trend is translating into sales as it reports one second-hand fashion sale every second so far in 2022.
The partnership will help more brands and retailers to create and quickly scale resale offerings, eBay says, while giving customers more choices in second-hand goods. The first retail partner to launch on ACS’ eBay Shop is Monsoon, with the e-commerce company saying that other high street names are set to follow.
ACS cleans, sanitises and repairs second-hand items, making them “resale ready”, as well as arranging the logistics of item listing and delivery.
eBay says the partnership aims to capitalise on the increasing shift to second-hand, which is being driven by the rising cost of living and greater concern for our impact on the environment.
Across the fashion industry we know there is a greater need to build a sustainable future.
A survey by eBay UK showed the top reasons for buying second-hand items were to “get a better deal or to find a bargain” (32%), to “cut back on spending”, and “the rise of the cost of living” (both 31%), followed by a drive to be “more sustainable” (26%).
25% of UK adults surveyed also said that a larger range of second-hand items now being available to buy was a key reason for them making a second-hand purchase.
However, the research found barriers exist when it comes to second-hand items becoming mainstream. Concerns about hygiene (51%), the safety of second-hand products (35%), quality issues (28%) and fake or inauthentic goods (27%) are the main reasons for avoiding preloved goods.
eBay says the new partnership with ACS aims to tackle some of these misconceptions in the second-hand market, through strict quality controls, the latest technology in sanitisation and high standards of repair.
Commenting on the partnership Lucy Peacock, Head of Preloved at eBay UK, said: “Across the fashion industry we know there is a greater need to build a sustainable future. Since 1995, eBay has extended the life cycle of products, whether through consumer-to-consumer reselling or our Imperfects hub, so it’s fantastic to partner with ACS, which is at the forefront of enabling the circular fashion economy.
“Pairing eBay’s reach among conscious customers, with ACS’ expertise in garment repair, resale and recycling will help reduce waste in the fashion industry and showcase a kinder way to shop that benefits both people’s wallets and the planet.”