Over half (53%) of Brummies surveyed aged 16+ are reselling items on second-hand online marketplaces, according to our research
Our survey found that ‘microsellers’ in Birmingham are earning an average of £184 each a year, with over three quarters (77%) having started in the last 5 years. With the sharp rise in second-hand selling online, we have seen customer-to-customer volumes surge by more than 200% in the last two years.
53% of Brummies have sold second-hand goods online , while a quarter (25%) say would be open to in future.
New research unveiled as we launch our Microsellers Guide to support consumers looking to start selling online
Making wallet and planet friendly choices
The most common reason for buying second-hand in Birmingham was saving money (69%), with being more eco-friendly (35%) and buying items no longer being produced (23%) also being key considerations.
Our Microsellers Report & Guide, which surveyed over 2,000 UK adults, also uncovered Brummies’ attitudes towards buying second-hand, with the quality of items considered the most important factor (54%), with low cost or free shipping (43%), the value of the item (42%), and the rating of the seller (40%) also coming out as other top priorities.
Whilst charity shops remain the most popular way to buy second-hand items (33%), the research found that online marketplaces, such as eBay (31%) and Vinted (29%), are the next most popular destination for Birmingham consumers looking for preloved products.
How to make the most money by selling online
For those looking to sell online, we found that flexibility and convenience are essential for buyers. Over half (57% ) said if a seller doesn’t accept returns, they would not purchase from them and over a third (34%) prefer picking up parcels from local stores because it’s more convenient.
The data also shows how consumers are increasingly expecting retail level quality in packaging and customer service when buying preowned. 54%3 of those from Birmingham say they are more likely to rebuy from a seller if it arrives in high quality packaging, whilst 62%3 are more likely to purchase from a seller again if they follow up with them to check they’ve received their order.
The Microsellers Report & Guide is a comprehensive look at the online second-hand market, providing tips and guidance for those looking to start selling their unwanted items via online marketplaces. It is available for download here.
For those looking for a convenient parcel delivery experience, Yodel Direct offers a range of services to support ‘microsellers’ and parcel recipients alike. We can deliver a parcel directly to recipients’ doors with our Store to Door service, or to another Yodel Store for buyers to pick up at their convenience, with the Store to Store option. Our latest offering for marketplace sellers also offers a Door-to-Door option, which can be booked directly within marketplace platforms. This two-day service is fully tracked from collection to delivery and allows customers to print labels from the comfort of their own home
Mike Hancox, CEO of Yodel, commented: “As the affordability and sustainability of our buying choices becomes more front of mind, the preowned market has boomed, and this growth has completely transformed the ecommerce industry.
“At Yodel, we’ve seen the effects of this in the significant and sustained growth in demand for our Yodel Direct delivery services, which has shifted our business portfolio from a strictly business-to-consumer operation to one that also specialises in consumer-to-consumer deliveries.
“Our Microsellers Guide provides insights gathered from our research and experience working with platforms like eBay and Vinted to give the over 14 million UK consumers who are interested in selling online support with getting started. We’re already seeing some people turn small scale reselling into lucrative businesses and we hope with this guide, more people will be able to explore opportunities to earn additional incomes and live more sustainably.”