The trend: More shoppers are looking to make secondhand purchases this holiday season, according to separate reports by resale marketplaces ThredUp and OfferUp.

• Nearly 40% of consumers’ holiday budgets will be spent on secondhand items, per ThredUp’s 2025 Consumer Holiday Report.
• The vast majority of US shoppers—81%—expect to shop secondhand for holiday gifts, per OfferUp’s latest recommerce report.

Behind the numbers: Resale holds clear appeal to shoppers grappling with economic uncertainty and limited budgets.

• Roughly 3 in 5 consumers surveyed by OfferUp (58%) and ThredUp (62%) cited cost savings as a top justification for buying secondhand.
• Resale’s wallet-friendly proposition is particularly appealing to Gen Z consumers feeling pinched by rising living costs and a weakening labor market. Ninety-five percent of Gen Zers say they would buy an item on a resale platform rather than new if it would save them money, compared with 84% of the general population, per OfferUp.

While saving money is a primary concern, shoppers are also drawn to the possibility of unearthing unique or one-of-a-kind items, as well as the environmental benefits of shopping secondhand.

What this means for retailers: Shoppers’ growing affinity for shopping secondhand is likely to last well beyond the holiday season. That should increase the urgency for retailers to launch resale and repair programs or make existing initiatives more visible for deal-seeking consumers.

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