In recent years, the concept of green consumption has gained traction, leading to the rapid growth of the secondhand market. From community consignment shops and physical thrift stores to online platforms, how is the idle economy shaping a new trend?
At a charity supermarket in Shanghai, Ms. Zhang recently brought a collection of unused items from her recent move. After the staff in the secondhand section inspected the items, they awarded her with green recycling points through a mini-program on her phone.
With these points, Ms. Zhang was able to exchange them for a keyboard she had long wanted—another resident’s discarded item.
In the charity supermarket’s secondhand area, local residents can find a range of pre-owned books, jewelry, clothes, and small appliances that have been cleaned and disinfected before being put on display. Some items even undergo creative upcycling.
Li Yujun, the manager of the secondhand section at the charity supermarket, shared, “About 80% of our customers are young people. We host weekly market events where most attendees find great deals, allowing them to purchase beautiful or practical items at affordable prices.”
As young consumers’ purchasing habits continue to evolve, the “Internet + secondhand goods” model has emerged. In a busy Shanghai store, a selection of pre-owned books and clothing is offered for sale.
Consumers can conveniently pack up their old books and other items via their smartphones and sell them to the store. After processing, these once-idle goods return to the physical retail space, lowering the selling threshold and enhancing the retail landscape.
