Much like secondhand clothing , used furniture sales are picking up as consumers seek out original designs and sustainable choices.
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Per Straits Research, in 2023, the global secondhand furniture market was valued at $38.32 billion and it is expected to grow to $75.33 billion in 2032. Forty-eight percent of U.S. consumers have purchased secondhand furniture, according to a new survey report from uShip. And among this group, 78 percent would shop secondhand again.
The most commonly cited benefit of secondhand goods is cost effectiveness, named by 63 percent of the 2,000 respondents in the survey conducted by Censuswide. This was followed by the availability of unique pieces, mentioned by 34 percent, while 29 percent said the sustainability profile for pre-owned products is better. Additionally, 26 percent are attracted by the lack of assembly required and 20 percent consider thrifting trendy.
“Consumers recognize that fast furniture, in addition to not being sustainable, is generally less desirable,” said Heather Hoover-Salomon, CEO of oversize goods shipper uShip, which counts Chairish and 1stDibs among its partners. “Fast furniture pieces are lower quality, and with people moving more and more, pieces will continue to break down in transit… Mass-produced furniture is so generic these days—consumers want the cool talking piece, which will definitely keep the secondhand furniture market thriving.”
Secondhand home goods may hold a similar appeal to pre-loved clothing, but unlike fashion, furniture customers can face friction in getting pieces home. In the uShip survey, one-third of shoppers with secondhand experience said that it was “complicated” to transport items, and 26 percent said they would require a seller to take care of delivery.
Twenty-seven percent of all adults indicated concerns about having reliable transportation that won’t lead to damage to the furniture, and this rises to 45 percent among 16- to 24-year-olds. Over one-fifth of those in this age group say they have often opted for conventional retail and new items over secondhand because of complicated logistics, compared to 18 percent of all adults who said the same.
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Hoover-Salomon said that reliable delivery capacity can be a challenge for secondhand retail, but merchants also have to pick carriers carefully. An earlier uShip survey showed that 21 percent of those who had bought large items had received damaged goods. “Secondhand furniture doesn’t normally come with all the package fixings that an Ikea or Wayfair piece would,” she told Sourcing Journal. “Therefore, ensuring transport isn’t just about getting the object from A to B—it’s about getting it there in good condition.”
Another hurdle is determining shipping costs and keeping them in check, especially since price is the number one incentive for shopping secondhand. “The cost of shipping can end up doubling the overall cost to the consumer, rendering that key benefit null and void,” said Hoover-Salomon, adding that customers have used its instant pricing feature for quotes. “Sellers want to know exactly what the cost to ship will be so they can give customers an accurate price and have transparency into the process themselves.”
Gen Zers are most likely to feel the strain on their wallets, given that they change homes more often than older consumers. A 2023 Hire a Helper survey showed that while 8 percent of all Americans moved last year, 17 percent of Gen Z adults relocated. Moving often aligns with new furniture acquisitions, and many in this age group are decorating their first homes, starting from scratch.
This key cohort expects Amazon-style speedy shipping. “Compared to older folks who aren’t as bothered by longer lead delivery times for an item they really want, younger folks have different expectations for shipping because they are innately oriented towards speed,” said Hoover-Salomon. “Retailers need to be transparent about price, speed, communication and tracking. In reality, a love seat will never arrive as fast as a pair of sandals, so getting ahead of the curve with younger buyers is important.”
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