Deep Dive: Fashion Re-Commerce Update—12 Catalysts for Apparel Resale Growth

Executive Summary

• The marketplace for online fashion resale (“recommerce”) continues to evolve rapidly.
• US full-price retailers are suffering while re-commerce is thriving, and re-commerce is currently one of the fastest-growing sectors in retail. The total apparel resale market (brick-and-mortar and online) is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13% from $18 billion in 2016 to $33 billion in 2021.
• Key factors driving continued growth of the fashion recommerce sector include millennial penetration, desire for value and cost savings, the entertainment factor of the treasure hunt for unique items, decluttering, environmental concerns, greater interest from higher-income shoppers and male customers, as well as resellers opening physical locations.
• We have also seen the emergence of mobile peer-to-peer re-commerce platforms offering innovative and easy-to-use technological features including social media functionality.
• Online secondhand resellers could pose a competitive threat to off-price retailers such as TJX, as both offer steep discounts on branded merchandise and provide a treasure hunt shopping experience.