Amid rising costs, manufacturing disruptions and a fluctuating financial system, one side of retail nonetheless appears to be thriving: the secondhand market. As soon as related to cut price hunters and classic lovers, thrifting is now turning into mainstream as a wiser, cheaper option to store.
In accordance with a 2025 resale report by ThredUP, the secondhand attire market ought to attain $367 billion globally by 2029. Fueling this development is a mix of financial warning, environmental consciousness and a need for individuality in what we put on and the way we beautify our properties. Along with this, Capital One Procuring experiences that 93% of Individuals store on-line for second hand gadgets—and as of 2024, this market within the U.S. is value an estimated $50 billion, up 30% from 2023.
This shift has paved the way in which for a brand new wave of unbiased classic and resale companies, typically with artistic, curated approaches that meet the rising demand for distinctive, inexpensive and eco-conscious finds.
Ardour meets goal
For profitable resalers, thrifting is greater than saving cash—it’s additionally about establishing significant connections and discovering items that evoke nostalgia and pleasure. These enterprise house owners should even have a eager eye for the best stock—however that’s solely a part of the equation.
Dallas-based reseller Brittany Roman—who turned her trend pastime into Tribute to My Closet, a full-time enterprise that helps individuals discover timeless fashion with out the waste of quick trend—says that she tracks what’s trending and builds stock round seasonality and demand. “It’s not nearly what’s cute,” she explains. “It’s about staying forward of what individuals will likely be craving subsequent and making certain that I’m stocked with items that really feel each well timed and timeless.”
In the meantime in Skokie, Illinois, Midge “Cheez” Ripoli and Lucy Rendler-Kaplan turned years of competition and market finds into Chez Lu’s Extraordinary Finds, a brand new storefront with a fast-growing native following. Ripoli admits that sourcing continues to be an evolving strategy of studying what individuals need and, extra importantly, what they don’t need. For him, there’s extra trial and error concerned—however in the end, he chooses items that appear like they might be a part of somebody’s story.
“We do quite a lot of on-line auctions, and we’re on an property sale e mail record so we all know when and the place the nice property gross sales are,” he says. “Plus, attending to know the those that run them is a bonus too.”
The cyclical nature of retail
As we’ve all seen in recent times, retail tendencies are famously cyclical. Types like ‘90s cargo pants, Y2K rhinestone tops and ‘80s outsized blazers have all made main comebacks, proving that what was as soon as previous typically turns into the subsequent large factor once more in trend. This displays a tradition that’s desirous to reclaim its identification by way of private expression and nostalgic consolation.
Roman notes a big uptick in boho and western trend particularly, like fringe jackets, concho belts and embroidered denim. “These types are rooted in classic, and most mass retailers aren’t providing the true deal except it comes with a hefty price ticket,” she says. “[But] I can supply genuine, one-of-a-kind items that nobody else has—and provide them at an accessible worth.”
In the meantime, Chez Lu’s has seen a wave of curiosity in ‘90s gadgets. “I feel there’s a ton of demand as a result of all people needs that one factor that they had as a child or their buddy had [that they can afford now],” Ripoli says.
However this emotional connection isn’t nearly trend. Ripoli and Rendler-Kaplan typically stage gadgets in playful, themed vignettes—like somewhat ‘70s breakfast nook or a wicker yard chair with matching wicker furnishings—to assist individuals visualize how secondhand could be cool, cohesive and enjoyable.
Digitizing thrifting
Expertise has additionally streamlined the resale course of, in accordance with each Ripoli and Roman, providing new methods to scale companies and attain broader audiences. Instruments like saved search alerts, AI-generated pricing strategies, and social commerce options on Instagram and Fb Market have made discovering and flipping classic finds simpler than ever.
Roman, who sells totally on platforms like Depop and Instagram, makes use of Pinterest to remain forward of trend cycles. She additionally leans closely on her Notes app to trace consumer preferences, want lists and stock. “I exploit saved searches to trace particular manufacturers or items I do know my purchasers need, however the true magic nonetheless lies in figuring out your buyer,” she provides. “It’s not simply reselling—it’s curating.”
For Chez Lu, social media is each an inspiration and a studying instrument. “Now we have realized loads by different classic shops’ Insta[gram] accounts or Fb accounts for ways in which we might do issues higher,” Ripoli says.
Epic thrift scores
Each reseller has that one unforgettable second when a dusty secondhand gem turns to gold. For Chez Lu‘s, it was a beat-up bamboo birdcage chair that Ripoli and Rendler-Kaplan fastened and posted on-line. A buyer who got here to see it informed them it was a uncommon ‘60s piece that was value 5 occasions greater than that they had listed it for.
“She really paid us much more than we had it up for when she actually didn’t should. However that was a sport changer as a result of we actually began all the pieces loads in a different way,” Ripoli says.
Roman’s greatest flip was a $300 leather-based Cuyana bag that she discovered for $4.99. She resold it for $150 to a buyer, who then posted a video sharing how excited she was to get a luxurious merchandise for much less. “I might inform it made her really feel elevated and classy—and that’s the sort of second that makes this work really feel particular,” Roman provides.
Thrifting ideas
Listed here are a couple of ideas from Roman that will help you rating some epic items in your subsequent thrifting journey:
- Go in with a guidelines of things you need.
- Don’t get caught on sizing—attempt on items that may not be your dimension or in your regular clothes part.
- Store the entire rack, not simply what’s at eye stage.
- Test cloth labels on clothes gadgets, particularly for high-quality manufacturers.
Why resale is right here to remain
As each Roman and Ripoli have seen, thrifting’s biggest energy is its relevance. And it isn’t only for the finances customers or households which might be attempting to make ends meet, both. Main manufacturers like Zara, Levi’s and Lululemon have launched their very own pre-owned applications, whereas luxurious labels like Coach additionally provide refurbished resale items.
“It’s not nearly saving garments from landfills—it’s about making a slower, smarter option to store,” Roman says.
In any case, as Ripoli provides, “persons are all the time going to need to do away with their stuff, and different persons are all the time going to need these gems.” And for the resellers who’re using this cycle, the joys of the hunt by no means will get previous.
Picture by AnnaStills/iStock.com
