Online Re-commerce - the latest buzz

The dress that is hiding in one's closet for more than a year now, the pants that do not fit, and a suit that one cannot repeat anymore to a wedding, all of it now can be sold with the help of an online store, that lets people sell used but maintained clothes. Believe it or not! Just like any other electronic item, vehicle, and furniture that is resold, clothing re-commerce is growing to have a huge market online and offline, and not just for designer labels and vintage garments but for just about everything.

Consumers today are moving away from their clich�d buying mindset. The economic slowdown is also responsible in motivating them to consider buying second hand clothes online. It is no more about just buying, consumers today also think about the re-sale value of their expensive dress or a leather jacket.

The urge to possess the latest and the newest in clothes according to the updated trends, the growing emphasis on reusing and recycling to keep the planet green, and earning something from selling, and budget constraints, are a few reasons for making online re-commerce especially with garments a big hit.

Even offline retailers are taking the stride of the development of re-selling of clothes. GAP stores in Canada and USA encouraged consumers to bring their used clothes to avail goodwill points and reimburse it to get a discount of 30% on Gap apparels. Leveraging on the off the rack upcycling and encouraging consumers to trade in their old rags for new, are retailers like Levis, who boosted their sales by offering their customers a scheme, where one can exchange a used pair of denims to receive a discount. Such initiatives by retailers have not only helped increase revenues but also let them show their green side.

The market for second hand clothing is thriving in physical as well as online stores. In fact online sites offer a wide range of options from vintage garments, designer outfits, and clothes for the cost conscious. Online retailers are losing the traditional identity of buying second hand clothes, instead they offer details of the seller's personality in terms of fashion and style, provide help with selling their garment, and give services with pricing and shipping the product for a price.

An online re-commerce site provides a white glove service to users, where in they can send their clothes; and for a price the e-tailer photographs, styles, uploads and ships the item for the seller. Another reselling store online requires buyers and sellers to apply for membership before carrying out a transaction on the site. They offer a frictionless process of reselling by authenticating the quality of the product and building trust for their users.

These online re-commerce sites are different from the large conventional buying and selling sites like eBay. The curation of such sites requires acquiring garments that are aesthetic and have some quality. The genuineness and the worthiness of the clothes of sellers are checked and authenticated by these sites. Encouraging selection through applications and registrations helps filter sellers who have items that are only of a certain legitimate value.