Older generations are embracing second-hand clothing platforms like Vinted and Depop, as shoppers become more conscious of both the cost and environmental impact of their shopping.
Spending among over-55s on resale platforms such as Vinted, Ebay and Depop has risen by 12 per cent over the past year, according to data from finance app Revolut.
And some reselling sites have seen an even bigger surge among older age groups.
Depop has seen considerable growth among 45- to 54-year-olds, with the group having spent 56 per cent more on the platform in 2024 than the previous year.
Fashionable choice: Second hand selling apps see users recycle unwanted items for a profit
Meanwhile, those aged between 65 and 74 spent 32 per cent more on Vinted in 2024 compared to the year before.
Generally, online selling platforms have younger users, who are often driven by environmental consciousness and their desire to get a good deal.
Data from Statista shows that the most common age of visitors to Vinted is 25 to 34, with 33 per cent of visitors falling into this bracket. The vast majority of visitors are still under the age of 44.
However, with concerns over the environment continuing to grow, and many still feeling the pinch of the cost-of-living crisis, older generations are shifting towards buying second-hand.
Fiona Davis, head of growth for the UK, Northern Ireland and Nordics at Revolut, said: ‘We’ve seen a trend towards customers seeking affordable alternatives in their spending – this is another proof point of that.
‘From children to grandparents, it’s clear that savvy spenders are looking for options that maximise value for money as well as offering sustainability, and resale sites are important to give them that choice.’
The oldest group of shoppers, those aged over 75, have upped their spending across Ebay, Vinted and Depop by 18 per cent in the last year, higher than the 13 per cent increase among the youngest aged 18 to 24.
There was a 16 per cent rise in spending for those aged between 55 and 64.
Meanwhile, Depop saw 55- to 64-year-olds increase their spending by 46 per cent, the same amount as Generation Z.
Davis added: ‘We also know that lots of our customers have their fingers on the pulse when it comes to entrepreneurship, so re-commerce platforms also offer a simple way for individuals to sell on their own items and make some extra cash.’
![Hooked: Anne-Marie Vladar started using Vinted in May, selling mainly second-hand clothes and shoes](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/09/30/16/90271757-13907045-Hooked_Anne_Marie_Vladar_has_started_using_Vinted_in_May_selling-a-17_1727711674800.jpg)
Hooked: Anne-Marie Vladar started using Vinted in May, selling mainly second-hand clothes and shoes
‘My daughter suggested I start selling on Vinted’
Anne-Marie Vladar, who is 59, began selling on Vinted in May after her daughter encouraged her to sign up to the platform.
Anne-Marie told This is Money: ‘In the past, I have used eBay for buying and selling various items and I have also done the odd car boot sale when clearing out my children’s old toys or outgrown clothing. I am now hooked by the simplicity and ease of use of the Vinted platform.’
Selling on the platform, she said, has allowed her to clear her wardrobe of unwanted items which she can pass on to new owners and give a new lease of life, as well as benefitting from some extra money in the bank and the feeling that the clothes aren’t going to waste.
‘I think we should all start to use this way of selling and buying – we must be helping the planet in some small way by recycling our unwanted things. We all have lots of unnecessary things in our homes… I think our local shops and the post office are benefiting too,’ she said.
‘I have recently converted two friends, both in their 60s, to Vinted. They are keen to get started especially when they can see how simple the platform is to use.’
While she largely sells clothes and shoes on the platform, Anne-Marie has used Vinted to make purchases beyond clothing, including books and CDs.
Ebay sees boost among younger audience
Ebay, which typically swings towards an older user-base, has seen a surge in spending on the platform by those aged between 25 and 34 of as much as 95 per cent over the past year.
Among the youngest adult group, between 18 and 24, there has been an increase in spending of 90 per cent.
Ebay has recently announced that it will drop fees for buying and selling in a bid to compete with the likes of Vinted and Depop.
The site had already cut its charges for second-hand clothing, but has now extended this too all other items, apart from motoring listings.
Kirsty Keoghan, general manager of eBay UK said: ‘Removing selling fees across categories is designed to give buyers access to greater breadth and depth of inventory, while creating a simplified and streamlined experience for sellers.’
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