Millions of Brits are cashing in an average of £146 each month by selling their wares on online resale platforms, according to a new study. An estimated 23.8million people are bagging about £1,752 annually by using these apps – a sum that could cover the typical energy bill, according to findings from Virgin Media O2 Business and Depop. Some 22% of shoppers reporting they've increased their usage of these secondhand apps over the last quarter, the research showed.
Clothing is the most popular second-hand purchase, bought by 68% of consumers who use the platforms, followed by books and media (33%) and electronics (27%). The study also uncovered that over one-third (35%) of customers have sold their items on the web recently, this figure balloons to over half (54%) among young people aged 18 to 24.
Ross Pearson, head of small enterprise at Virgin Media O2 Business, said: "Online second-hand marketplaces have powered a new generation of entrepreneurs. Not only are they then able to make an income, they’re also sustainably giving products a second lease of life. At Virgin Media O2 Business, we are proud to be able to support not only businesses that have physical stores, but also at-home-entrepreneurs.".
Steve Dool, director of brand and marketing at Depop, said: “With over 180,000 new listings a day, there’s no shortage of unique and trending pieces to discover on Depop across a broad range of second-hand styles. “Depop is for anyone and everyone who is open to exploring their personal style, no matter what initially brings them to the platform. We’re excited to be able to offer our community of sellers and buyers more value for money and incredible inventory, whilst also helping to keep clothes that already exist in circulation for longer.”.
