As this year’s Christmas shopping season quickly approaches, UK consumers are increasingly turning to second-hand marketplaces to buy gifts for their loved ones, according to research from parcel carrier Yodel.
In fact, over 16 million Brits are buying Christmas presents on second-hand online marketplaces, with one in five (20%) having bought presents for friends or family via such platforms in the past and a further 14% planning to do so for the first time this year.
Furthermore, one in ten (10%) UK adults are planning to exclusively buy presents from second-hand marketplaces this year, bidding goodbye to the high street altogether.
Alongside the boom in second-hand shopping, the research also found that almost a third (32%) of Brits are happy to receive a present bought via a second-hand marketplace, showing how ‘brand-new’ isn’t always seen as a prerequisite for holiday gifting.
Fuelling Festive Finances
While the likes of Vinted and eBay are proving popular avenues for gift buyers, such platforms are profitable for those looking to top up their festive finances, too.
Almost a quarter (22%) are planning to sell, or sell more, pre-loved belongings on second-hand marketplaces to help fund their festivities. This comes as the average household spent over £1,800 last Christmas, with costs almost tripling over the last 30 years.
Second-Hand Selling Surge
This latest Christmas trend follows a general surge in second-hand selling, with Yodel previously finding over half of Brits (54%) aged 16+ are reselling items on online marketplaces, with ‘microsellers’ earning an average of £246 a year.
When it came to second-hand shoppers, saving money came out as the top reason for buying pre-loved (69%), while being more eco-friendly and buying items no longer being produced followed at 37% and 21% respectively.
In response to this strong demand for second-hand selling, Yodel has seen its customer-to-customer volumes surge by more than 200% in the last two years. The business has seen a particular uptick in demand for its Out of Home (OOH) network, which makes receiving and sending parcels online easier through a network of 7,000 Yodel stores. Yodel has also recently partnered with InPost, which will see the parcel carrier expanding its locker network through the InPost ‘Locker-to-Door’ service.
For those looking to send parcels via Yodel’s network this Christmas, Monday 23rd December is the last normal delivery service day before the 25th, with customers recommended to drop off their parcels at Yodel stores or in InPost lockers by 16th December to ensure their recipients receive ahead of Christmas Day.
Sam Holden, CCO of Yodel, shared, “The second-hand economy has exploded over the last year and for many Christmas is becoming ‘Thirftmas’.
“Easy-to-use marketplaces have opened up a world of options for people and millions of us are now looking at pre-loved platforms to find unique, eco-friendly and affordable gifts.
“Those planning on putting a preloved gift under their tree should plan early to allow enough time for senders to get their orders out. If selling online, remember to properly package parcels to avoid any delays.”
