{"id":14678,"date":"2024-10-18T06:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-18T06:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focus.cbbc.org\/?p=14678"},"modified":"2025-04-23T08:56:54","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T08:56:54","slug":"the-rise-of-second-hand-shopping-platforms-in-china","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focus.cbbc.org\/the-rise-of-second-hand-shopping-platforms-in-china\/","title":{"rendered":"The rise of second-hand shopping platforms in China"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

China\u2019s cost and environment-conscious shoppers are increasingly flocking to second-hand and resale platforms. Robynne Tindall<\/strong> finds out more<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Traditionally, second-hand or vintage apparel was not thought to be desirable for the average consumer in China, especially during the economic good times of the past few decades. However, the popularity of second-hand, resale and pre-owned goods platforms has taken off in recent years, especially among Gen Z shoppers, driven by growing environmental concerns and depressed consumer confidence caused by rising unemployment and the ongoing real estate crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Data show that the value of the second-hand goods market rose from RMB 300 billion (\u00a332 billion) in 2015 to RMB 1.05 trillion (\u00a3112 billion) by 2020, and according to a 2021 report released by consulting firm Frost & Sullivan and Tsinghua University\u2019s Institute of Energy, Environment and Economy, it is expected to reach nearly RMB 3 trillion (\u00a3320 billion) in 2025. Luxury resale, in particular, is having a moment, with many sellers successfully using platforms like Douyin and Xiaohongshu to boost their sales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

China also has a number of popular second-hand apps, including Plum (Hongbulin), Alibaba-owned Idle Fish (Xianyu), and Tencent-backed Zhuan Zhuan, which appeal to the well-established e-commerce habits of Chinese consumers. Idle Fish and Zhuan Zhuan are consumer-driven marketplaces (similar to Vinted or Depop), while Plum manages the whole consumption process, from authentication for luxury goods<\/a> to photography to logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In October 2024, Zhuan Zhuan acquired Plum, signalling a shift in the second-hand e-commerce sphere. The combination of Plum\u2019s luxury fashion expertise and Zhuan Zhuan\u2019s authentication expertise (Zhuan Zhuan previously mainly focused on pre-owned electronics, in which authentication and testing is particularly important) could create the platform that finally takes the lion\u2019s share of the second-hand luxury market in China. It will also create further challenges for international second-hand luxury platforms, which have so far struggled to thrive in the Chinese market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n