User:Mayaamills/Second-hand shop

History of second-hand shops
The second-hand clothing market has been around for quite some time. Early in the 1300s when newly made garments were very expensive, which resulting in second-hand trading rising to popularity in European cities. Up until the boom of mass production, historically, clothes were widely traded. However, in the nineteenth century when mass production began, used clothing was not as widely sought after and often regarded as "trash" and "rags" reserved for those of lesser economic means. Long standing practices of mending older items or modifying clothing became almost obsolete and buying practices shifted towards novelty. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, second-hand clothing was not seen an indication of poverty, however, very few documents remain that substantiate the once well-respected industry of second-hand garments. In the 1700s, when consumerism was quite nascent, there was still a very extensive network of second-hand resale — during this brief period, mass-production had not reached its peak and therefore could not supply all consumers with the goods they needed meaning the second-hand industry was still quite prominent. Mass-production in its early years, catered to those of higher economic means, which meant that the wealthy were often the purchasers of mass-produced items. During that same period the lack of resources for those of lower means combined with the beginnings of mass-production and consumerist habits of the wealthy resulted in a booming second-hand market.

Second-hand shops today
Fast forward to today and second-hand clothing, sometimes referred to as "vintage" clothing, is seen as an increasingly more sustainable and desired method of dress. In recent years, many second-hand shops have moved online. The allure convenience and thrift, along with its many economic benefits, has generated quite the consumer base in recent years. In 2016 alone, Craigslist made $690 million in revenue. However, brick and mortar stores continue to be popular among second-hand shoppers, many of whom have taken to reselling their personal thrift finds online via sites like Depop and Etsy.

In today's retail marketplace there is a mix of high-end stores, traditional thrift stores and online retailers who all provide second-hand goods. Second-hand shops today offer a true alternative to traditional shopping methods and many of the social stigmas around shopping second-hand have faded. Consumer and marketplace shifts have meant that many traditional retailers have hopped on board the second-hand market as well. One example of this is from 2019, when Ralph Lauren partnered with online peer-to-peer social shopping app Depop to develop Re/Sourced, a specially curated line of vintage Ralph Lauren. Some of the lines items were sold virtually on the Depop app and others at a pop-up Ralph Lauren location.

Websites that facilitate second-hand resale

 * Depop - Peer-to-peer social shopping that allows users to resell their own clothing.
 * Grailed - Men's community marketplace for the resale of luxury goods.
 * ThredUp - Online consignment and thrift store for users to buy and sell clothes.
 * Poshmark - Social marketplace for the purpose of buying and selling items.
 * Etsy - Global online marketplace where users can sell their goods, not specifically second-hand shop but many sellers resell "vintage" and used clothing.
 * OfferUp - Online mobile-first marketplace that prioritizing user experience through profile ratings.
 * The RealReal - Online and brick and mortar store for consignment luxury goods.

Current businesses

 * Mission Thrift Stores - Non-denominational Christian second-hand shop that operates in Canada.