Second-hand market booms in Italy, creating new economic opportunities

The Italian second-hand market is expanding rapidly, with 92% of consumers planning to spend the same or more on pre-loved goods in 2025, highlighting a growing economic impact for sellers, platforms, and the broader retail sector.

Italy’s second-hand market is showing strong growth, as four in ten consumers purchase pre-loved items at least once a month. The trend, driven largely by younger generations, signals that recommerce is becoming a significant economic segment.

Among Gen Z, 59%, and Millennials, 56%, plan to increase spending on used goods in 2025. Key motivations include saving money (76%), sustainability (53%), and the chance to find unique or collectible items (41%), indicating that recommerce offers both financial benefits and added perceived value.

For sellers, pre-loved goods provide not only extra income but also opportunities to give items a second life (63%), reduce waste (41%), and declutter (57%). This creates a virtuous economic cycle, stimulating micro-businesses, generating revenue, and strengthening platforms like eBay, which facilitate transactions and logistics.

Margot Olifson, Country Manager of eBay Italy, said: “Recommerce is no longer just a social trend; it is a tangible economic opportunity. It generates value for consumers and sellers alike while supporting more sustainable and resilient market dynamics.”