Every second Pole uses second-hand products
Local market research in Poland conducted by ARC Rynek i Opinia shows that already over 40% of Poles reach for used books or clothes. and almost 60% of us choose second-hand cars. Seems like second-hand items are no longer a shame, but sometimes even pride.
Possibilities offered by the online world, including e-commerce, online marketplaces, or social media stimulate the fashion industry to the extent never seen before. More and more consumers prefer to repair things they already have rather than throw them away and buy new ones.
The fact that cars are the most common second-hand goods is not surprising. However, more than 40% of respondents claiming to buy second-hand books or clothes is no longer that obvious. It is a derivative of both – their lower prices and, more and more often, the aversion to fast and cheap fashion from chain stores. Therefore, especially younger generations are more willing to reach for used products. For them, it is not the possession of the item that matters, but the use and returning of it.
Local market research indicates that today, second-hand items account for about 10 percent of the 120 million offers that are available on the platform every month. However, there are categories in which their high share is still maintained. These are, for example, books, where one-third of the offers are used items, many are not resumed anymore and can only be bought in secondary circulation.
Specialists estimate the domestic used clothing market at PLN 5-6 billion annually. Already more than 10 million adult Poles dress in second-hand clothing stores. The number of operating stores is almost 30 thousand. In addition, there are thousands of used cars that change owners every year. Plus, a number of other products, from furniture to tools and electronics.
Further reading
Want to read more about FMCG or automotive markets in Poland? Check our reports – E-Commerce in Poland, Fashion industry in Poland, and Retail banking in Poland.
