They only buy a second-hand garment ... to resell it

During the Covid-19 crisis, online street

partially replace those on the streets -

• The Boston Consulting Group firm published on Tuesday a study for the Vestiaire Collective site, which shows the growing interest of consumers in branded clothing sold second-hand.

• With the development of platforms and other marketplaces, some consumers are looking for clothes

  sold at low prices by their owners to resell them for a margin.

• This practice, although legal, is monitored by the tax authorities who receive transaction reports from the platforms.

“In commerce, opportunity is everything.

"By diverting his remarks, one could suggest that Honoré de Balzac was a visionary.

In the economic situation caused by the Covid-19, the second-hand market is not experiencing the crisis.

According to a study by the Boston consulting group, for the Vestiaire Collective website, published on Tuesday, the world second-hand market would weigh between 30 and 40 billion dollars.

A figure in constant progression since the study forecasts an annual growth of 20% over the next five years.

Many economic players are trying to find a place there.

In the branded clothing sector, some discerning individuals take the opportunity to make ends meet.

Round up your end of the month

“It happened to me to earn 400 euros in a month, without forcing too much.

Mathilde, 31, admits that she does not quite cover the cost.

Fanatic of the second-hand clothing resale site between private individuals, Vinted, she has been making profits every month for almost two years.

His trick?

Identify designer clothes sold at too low a price by other sellers because they do not know the market value.

Originally, Mathilde went to this site to find clothes to wear: “I have always liked big brands, quality clothes.

But I couldn't afford them.

So I spent hours scrolling through the offers hoping to make a deal.

“By dint of searching, she got to know a very large number of brands, but also their potential for resale.

Morgane went through the same journey.

By putting a little top on sale, she receives about ten offers in less than 15 minutes.

This is the trigger: “I had just proposed a“ deal not to be missed ”.

»Understand: A garment that has a strong potential for resale.

Morgane then understands that she can further fill her virtual portfolio.

Today, the shopping sessions of these two Internet users are divided into two: On the one hand, they are looking for what they would like to buy, on the other, they are looking for pearls that they can resell for more.

On reading the testimonials received by

, this practice would greatly develop on second-hand clothing sites.

"The junk dealer reflex"

Dominique Roux, professor at the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, studies emerging, alternative and collaborative consumption.

She explains this type of behavior: “It's the junk dealer reflex.

A salesperson misjudges their product.

The buyer knows it, buys it and sells it.

"If Dominique Roux specifies that this behavior has existed for a long time, with social networks and second-hand platforms, this practice is becoming popular:" Consumers take part in traditional commerce.

Whereas before, commerce took place between fixed actors: traders on one side and customers on the other.

The second-hand market, especially online, is shaking up this pattern.

Dominique Roux sums up: “One-day buyers are tomorrow's sellers.

And vice versa.

”Also, individuals show real qualities of traders: They add small gifts to their sales, give a good rating to their buyers, a nice comment and they thank them publicly.

"And like traders, some develop real expertise and are able to assess prices in a field", analyzes Dominique Roux.

For the economist, it is also the application of entrepreneurship that is valued in our society.

Internet allows individuals to "empower themselves" and platforms help them to professionalize.

They offer tutorials to highlight the clothes: "Better a photo of the garment worn, rather than on a hanger ..."

A target of choice

And branded clothing lends itself particularly well to these practices.

In particular thanks to the move upmarket sought by customers.

According to the BCG study, 85% of second-hand buyers want to reduce the overconsumption caused by fast fashion by favoring fewer and better purchases.

But the price is important since 45% look for affordable rates first.

They are even 65% to want to adapt their consumption to buy more reliable brands.

Mathilde confirms this: “The brand is the first thing I look at.

This is what buyers look for first and therefore what allows them to make the most profit.

"

Beware of those who have the madness of grandeur.

These sales may not entirely go under the radar of the authorities.

Indeed, the platforms must send to the tax administration an annual summary of the transactions of all the people who cash more than 3,000 euros or who carry out more than 19 transactions in the year.

This device, which fights against fraud, does not necessarily lead to taxation unless a sale exceeds 5,000 euros (19% tax).

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• Internet

• Economy

• Sale

• Large distribution

• Supermarket

• The good corner

• Clothes

• Online sales