Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic this year, many consumers have been re-evaluating their relationship with consumption. Usual spending habits were reigned in for a total of four months as the high street remained shuttered under government instruction. 

During that time many of us have completely re-evaluated the way we live our lives, and that includes our relationship with consumption. One question that continued to crop up was centred around sustainability, a term currently at the forefront of everybody’s mind.

For many reasons, consumers are keen to reduce waste and make sure their unwanted items can earn them some cash. With more time spent at home during lockdown, people are realising that selling goods second hand can be a hobby as well as a money-making exercise. Selling online can bring a smile to someone’s face, as they find that items they no longer want can still have significant value for someone else.

Fast changing consumer habits

Our team at Shpock have seen big changes over the past year, and as a result are making sure our sellers remain our number one priority by empowering them. Our vision is to create a fast, safe, and trusted marketplace. Particularly in an era where consumers are hyper aware of the brands they feel align with their personal values. Crucially, the process of selling an item needs to be easy and fun.

And there’s plenty of items out there just asking to be sold. Many of us like to keep up with fashion trends, but that means mounting piles of clothes we might no longer want. When it comes to this sector, according to Oxfam, every week 13 million items of clothing end up in UK landfills. Selling is a fun way to deal with this problem.

Meanwhile, as consumers become more aware of consumption patterns, it’s only natural to be on the look-out for alternative platforms to feed their ‘need’ for new items.

Hence a new form of shopping emerges: a peer-to-peer circular network which is a hybrid of vintage/second retail and online convenience. This enables buyers to treat themselves to items they otherwise might not be able to afford, or to justify sustainably. A growing market for second-hand sellers to target.

By extending the lifespan through selling pre-loved goods, we’re preventing them from going to landfill, reducing the overall impact on the environment.

Empowerment through the joy of selling

As people have reigned in their spending, consumers are also looking for more affordable options. Research suggests that lockdown restrictions have accelerated the public’s adoption of online shopping, observing a 129% increase across the UK and Ireland according to Astound Commerce, 2020.

As the ripple effects of the pandemic continue to take shape, the public are living in an ever-increasingly uncertain time; an upcoming recession, wide-spread job losses etc. Therefore, it’s important for marketplaces to understand the challenges present within their online communities. Shpock’s recent rebrand places ‘The Joy of Selling’ at the centre of everything we do. That’s because we know people genuinely enjoy the process of turning their unwanted items into cash. 

Marketplaces are pioneering different approaches that make selling faster and easier. For example, Shpock doesn’t charge any fees to the seller, so people can give clothes that no longer fit them or excite them a second lease of life without having to pay for it.

The joy of selling is twofold. In these trying times, the power of the second-hand market allows people to be more carefree. Both by saving money and making money. And not having to stress too much about the environmental impact.

The concerns of the wider society are no doubt impacting the way in which we define consumerism. Alongside increasing pressure from early adopters, environmental groups and activists, brands and marketplaces will inevitably be held to a high standard. Soon enough consumers will begin to expect nothing short of sustainable products from their favourite brands.

It’s clear from the benefits that there will always be a need for a resale marketplace. They do a world of good not just for the environment but in providing an accessible platform for users to harness. As the circular economy moves from strength to strength, consumers will feel more empowered to make more responsible choices towards a better future.