Second-hand gifts are rising in popularity in Germany, with 54% saying they have already given a second-hand gift this year, up from 51% in 2023, a study has found.
The study, conducted by Sellpy and the German Retail Association (HDE), in collaboration with Appinio, found that the trend for second-hand gifting is particularly rising among older generations, with 45% of those aged 55 to 65 adopting the practice in 2024, up from 35% last year.
Environmentally-conscious consumption
The rise of environmentally-conscious consumption is playing a role here, the data showed, with 63% of those willing to give second-hand gifts citing environmental concerns as a key reason.
Other factors cited by respondents include cost savings (46%) and the ‘uniqueness’ of second-hand items (35%).
‘Men, in particular, are excited by the idea that the recipients might appreciate second-hand gifts more than a new purchase,’ HDE noted.
Top categories
In terms of the categories in which second-hand gifting takes place in Germany, home and decor (67%), accessories (62%), electrical goods (58%), and clothing (51%) continue to be the most popular categories for second-hand gifts.
Some 55% said that they plan to purchase second-hand gifts online, with men (58%) shopping online slightly more often than women (51%).
At the same time, skepticism persists among some consumers as to whether the recipient of said gifts would appreciate them, cited by more than two fifths (41%) of respondents. Elsewhere, three in ten (29%) noted that second-hand gifts could be misunderstood as an indication of a limited budget.
Younger consumers, particularly those in the 16 to 24 age group, continue to prefer traditional, new gifts (73%), the data showed, while those aged 35 to 44 are more open to giving second-hand items (34%).
On a gender basis, women (34%) are more receptive to second-hand gifts than men (27%), according to the survey. Read more here.
