Every parent knows how quickly kids outgrow things. That new outfit that fits today suddenly doesn’t tomorrow. That means parents continually seek new homes for items their kids no longer use … and look for deals on replacements for all those outgrown clothes, toys, and more. Enter the secondhand market. According to the newly released Mercari Reuse Report: Family Edition, developed in partnership with Global Data, two thirds of parents surveyed have bought secondhand items for their kids within the last 12 months, most seeking to save money. And American families are sitting on hundreds of millions of unused kids’ and baby items. That’s a lotta outgrown onesies and action figures collecting dust.
Read on for 5 more resale market facts for families that may surprise you, as discovered in our latest Reuse Report, which you can download here.
Buying secondhand kids’ and baby items could save parents over an estimated $91 billion per year. In 2021, American parents spent an average of $762 on new kids’ and baby items. If purchased secondhand, the annual cost of these items would have been $251, which equates to a savings of $511*!
American households are currently sitting on 272.6 million unused kids’ and baby items. From strollers to outgrown shoes, that’s a ton of stuff that the kids have outgrown or no longer play with or use. Time to clear out those closets, toy bins, and storage spaces. Check out these tips on selling your kids’ preloved toys.
Families can make nearly $400 from selling unused items. The 272.6 million kids’ and baby items that American households have but no longer use equates to an estimated $13 billion, or $391 per household. 38.4% of parents surveyed said they’re holding onto these items for sentimental reasons, but with 21 million unused items currently sitting in storage facilities, it might be time to let go of excess toys and clothes that the kids won’t miss.
Luxury is in high demand. Buying secondhand isn’t just confined to everyday products like action figures and basic tees. Luxury goods is one of the fastest growing segments of the resale market for parents. In 2021, luxury resale for kids’ and baby items was $948 million, according to GlobalData’s market analysis, and it’s expected to grow to an estimated $1.4 billion by 2030.
More than half of kids’ and baby item resale is expected to be online by 2030. Online shopping is quick and convenient, and digital platforms like Mercari make it easy for parents to buy and sell. In fact, online kids’ and baby item resale is expected to more than double between 2021 and 2030 and is estimated to account for 53.4% of the kids and baby resale market in 2030.
The Mercari Reuse Report: Family Edition is packed full of eye-opening info and stats, diving deep into how American parents and families are using resale, as both buyers and sellers. And if all these numbers inspire you to declutter or snag deals on preloved stuff for the kids, head over to the Mercari marketplace where it’s easy to buy and sell just about anything.
*Savings is based on 67% average savings that buying secondhand yields.
GlobalData is a global research agency and consulting firm. Within the firm’s retail division, their work focuses on all aspects of retailing and consumer behavior, which they deliver through a variety of different reports and their interactive Intelligence Centre.
Forward-Looking Statements
This blog post contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts. The words "will", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "predict", “set”, “forecast” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Except as required by law, Mercari has no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements to conform these statements to actual results or revised expectations.
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