The business of second-hand products enters the maturity phase while the turnover reaches 24 billion in value, 1.4% of the national GDP. Almost 23 million Italians have chosen this form of circular economy and 66% of those who have bought have looked to second hand as the first reference channel, demonstrating, especially for sales, which increased compared to the previous year, to consider this method as a smart way to make space, give value to objects and earn or save. All in the name of sustainability, which remains the first reference value of the second-hand economy (54%). These are among the main evidences that emerged from the eighth edition of the Second Hand Economy Observatory conducted by BVA Doxa for Subito, platform leader to sell and buy second-hand items. The most significant boost comes from the volume of online business which constitutes almost 50% of the total and has risen from 5.4 billion euros in 2014 to 11.8 in 2021, with a net growth of 1 billion euros year on year. It is therefore thanks to online that the total value of the second hand in 2021 returned to pre-pandemic levels (24 billion in 2019, 23 in 2020). Italians (52%), with even higher adoption peaks in 2021 for graduates (68%), Gen Z (66%), 35-44 years (70%) and families with children (68%). hand economy in 2021 enters in all respects among the consumption habits of Italians, thanks also to the driving role of digital, which has evolved through the introduction of increasingly integrated services, which make it possible to manage the sale entirely from smartphones, without move from home. For example, Subito has developed the Tuttosubito service, which allows you to buy and sell remotely and safely, offering a customer experience that is increasingly similar to e-commerce »- comments Giuseppe Pasceri, CEO of Subito -. We are therefore proud to be able to contribute to the evolution of this market and to promote its values in Italy ». As many as 69% of those who bought and sold used items did so online because it is faster (49%), offers a wider choice (43%) and allows you to do everything from the comfort of home (41%). From 2014 to 2021, the number of those who turn to online to buy grew from 30% to 70%, while those who sell went from 45% to 72%, attesting to growth both in absolute terms and in frequency. In particular, in 2021 online surpasses offline even as the most used channel for purchasing, while for sales it was already established, and in a cross-target manner. The frequency of used trading continues to grow along with the number of items bought and sold. The Observatory shows that 72% of those who bought and 69% of those who sold do so at least once every 6 months. In addition, 72% of buyers and 76% of sellers say they bought at least the same number of items as last year. In practice, once you have discovered this market and experienced the immediacy and ease of use, doing second hand becomes a healthy habit that attracts new people every year (15% in 2021). The earnings of those who have sold used items in the last year is estimated at around 1,121 euros. The Observatory examines the most popular categories and objects in the sale of second-hand vehicles where in general we see the volume of the sale of second-hand engines (11.5 billion), followed by Casa & Persona (5.7 billion) and Electronics (4.1 billion), which maintain a constant growth trend, while Sport & Hobby (2.6 billion), after the boom of 2020, returns to pre-pandemic levels due to the return to normalcy and the lack of specific needs. The main reasons that led to the sale of used seem to be of a practical nature, linked to savings / earnings and the idea of making room. In this regard, after two years of strong change and uncertainty, decluttering also takes on an “emotional” aspect, becoming a way to clean up the mind and heart, getting rid of objects that anchor to the past, with benefits in terms of income, lightness and projection towards the future. Despite this, the association of the second hand with sustainability and the desire to reduce waste remains firm. The local cross-section of the observatory offers some novelties. The first three regions that stand out for turnover are Lazio (3.4 billion euros), Lombardy (3.3 billion euros) and Campania (2.4 billion euros). Looking at the ranking of the top five regions where he earned more than the national average of 1,121 euros in 2021, we find Campania with 1,625, Veneto (1,383) Lombardy (1,339), Tuscany (€ 1,208) and finally Piedmont ( 1,147).
Sales of 24 billion, one in two Italians can’t resist the charm of used products
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