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The Real Appeal of Secondhand Shopping to Gen Z

Young people have been into secondhand shopping for a while, but Gen Z’s top reasons for it might not be what previous gens expect..

Written and Edited by the YPulse Editorial Team

Jan 15 2025
North America

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Gen Z’s biggest reason for shopping secondhand is to save money
Style comes next, as they love to hunt for unique, vintage pieces to create one-of-a-kind looks
While sustainability isn’t the top motivation, it’s still a bonus they value and expect brands to prioritize it, too

Secondhand shopping is nothing new, but Gen Z has transformed its image. YPulse’s latest Gen Z’s Thrift Shift Trend Report shows 78% of young consumers have purchased a secondhand item, with 28% of 13-17-year-olds and 40% of 18-24-year-olds making it at least a monthly habit. In fact, only 9% and 6% respectively say they never shop secondhand at all. Clearly, thrifting is a regular part of their shopping routines! And there’s no shame in it for this gen: 90% of teens and 72% of young adults agree there’s no shame in shopping secondhand. Unlike Gen X and Millennials, who often saw...