Marks & Spencer launches pilot selling school uniforms through a second-hand, “pre-loved”, eBay school uniform shop.
Marks & Spencer (M&S) has expanded its Shwopping partnership with Oxfam for the Back-to-School season with dedicated school uniform Shwop boxes in over 200 stores across the UK.
Customers donating their second-hand school uniforms into one of the Shwop boxes will also receive 20% off selected kids’ clothing at M&S. The retail chain says it sells nearly seven million pieces of school uniform per year.
Commenting on the partnership, Lucy Peacock, Head of Pre-Loved Fashion at eBay UK, said: “Every parent should be able to have access to a school uniform for their child at any age which is good quality and fit for purpose.
“The cost-of-living crisis has created greater education poverty and an ever-increasing need for school uniforms. Together with M&S and Oxfam, we are proud to be able to pilot an e-commerce solution to help parents get access to pre-loved school uniforms across all corners of the UK.”
The cost-of-living crisis has created greater education poverty and an ever-increasing need for school uniforms.
Through the new Shwopping boxes, donated pre-loved school uniforms which pass the hand-me-down quality test will be given a second life in an Oxfam shop and made available on a dedicated pre-loved school uniform shop on eBay for the first time.
M&S says that any school uniform that can’t be resold in Oxfam shops or on eBay will be recycled or reused wherever possible.
Since launching Shwopping in 2008, M&S says it has collected over 36 million items which have contributed an “estimated £23 million” to Oxfam’s vital work across the world.
Alexandra Dimitriu, Kidswear Director at M&S, commented: “At M&S, our clothing is too good to waste. Made with care and with innovative design features, our school uniform is super durable to ensure whatever your kids get up to on the playground, it can last the test of time.
“We know our customers frequently hand down our school uniform to friends and family and this season, we’re encouraging them to drop school uniforms which they no longer need into one of our new Shwopping boxes where it will be resold in Oxfam shops and through our exciting pilot shop with eBay.”