The Second-Hand Goods Market: Trends and Challenges

Abstract

Second-hand goods have been popular in their use since the time of bartering, and in the context of digitalization, they are gaining popularity among consumers around the world, especially the X, Y and Z generations. The resale market is a worthy alternative and a competitive threat to the new consumer goods one not only for economic consumer reasons but also on a social and ethical ones. Content analysis of research papers shows that studies related to the development of the second-hand goods market and the factors that motivate consumers to participate are therefore few and there is no systematized statistical information for this type market segment. Considering the rapid development of the resale market which is scarcely researched, this paper investigate some of the major trends in the second hand goods market, their causes and impact on retail in the digital society.