53.3% of US digital buyers purchased clothing online in the past 30 days, more than 20 percentage points ahead of the next-closest category, pet products (32.5%), according to a February survey from Bizrate Insights and EMARKETER.

This FAQ covers the recommerce market's size, the consumers driving it, and how brands should respond.

Resale has moved from niche to mainstream, with over half (59%) of consumers shopping secondhand apparel last year, according to thredUP. But as platforms scale to millions of items, the real challenge shifts from inventory to discovery, helping shoppers navigate an endless aisle of one-of-a-kind pieces without feeling overwhelmed.

Cost pressures and changing buying habits among younger consumers accelerate resale adoption.

For brands, that means stronger customer experience and leaner operations could distinguish winners from laggards.

Vinted moves to cash in on US consumers’ rising appetite for resale: The platform will spend millions to establish a foothold in the market.

Retailers with a well-defined identity delivered strong growth in 2025.

ThredUp posted its strongest revenue growth in nearly four years in Q3 as rising price sensitivity fuels interest in online resale. Active buyers surged 26% YoY as ThredUp touted its “best quarter for new buyer acquisition” in company history. Resale is having a moment. The end of de minimis import exemptions and new tariffs on apparel are making buying secondhand more appealing to price-sensitive consumers, while younger generations are embracing resale for its affordability and creative possibilities. We expect fashion online resale platform sales to expand 10.4% this year, nearly double the rate of online apparel, footwear, and accessories sales.

Resale platform Depop launched its biggest US marketing campaign to date as it looks to expand its audience beyond its core Gen Z user base and capitalize on surging demand for secondhand goods. Growing global demand for resale presents challenges and opportunities—both for marketplaces that trade in secondhand goods, like Depop and eBay, as well as for traditional retailers.

ThredUp sees a big opportunity ahead: Steep tariffs on China and the closing of the de minimis loophole will drive up prices for new products, which could be a boon to the resale platform.

Inflation causes Gen Z shoppers to rethink when and where they shop: Growing financial strain is forcing shoppers to adjust their spending habits.

If ad dollars shrink, Meta and others may need to ditch risky side projects and focus on scalable, affordable services to survive the slowdown

Major retailers like IKEA, Walmart, and ThredUp are launching peer-to-peer resale marketplaces, aiming to capture a slice of the booming secondhand market. This trend comes as US marketplace ecommerce sales are projected to surpass $500 billion next year, according to our forecast.

In August, brands got physical, with Olipop entering a new stadium, Nordstrom inking a deal with Rihanna, and Walmart growing with nonendemic retail media opportunities. Others took a more digital approach, making shopping more seamless on social media sites and AI-powered search. Here are the moves that made our analysts name eight brands to our unofficial most interesting list in August. 

ThredUp tests peer-to-peer marketplace model as losses pile up: The resale platform is in need of a reset as it struggles to navigate an uncertain economic environment.

Our revised US resale forecast reflects a slowdown for the ecommerce-dominated market, as the cost of selling one-of-a-kind items online comes into focus.

Though apparel and accessories is the third fastest-growing product category we measure—growing 3.9% to reach $616.37 billion in US sales this year—retailers need to find creative ways to court consumers as they remain price-sensitive.

eBay’s consignment business is its latest play for luxury shoppers: The marketplace is betting on luxury to turn its fortunes around.

The RealReal and thredUP set their sights on premium shoppers: Both companies are targeting bigger spenders to improve margins and achieve profitability by next year.

The Container Store embraces resale: Its partnership with thredUP will allow shoppers to resell gently worn items for shopping credit at The Container Store.