It’s a Hard Sell: Over Half of People Throw Wearable Clothes in the Bin as the Struggle to Sell Pre-loved Garments is REAL

Tasha Ghouri reveals how your wardrobe trash can bring you treasure

LONDON, UK – 27 November 2022 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd: The average Brit has almost £800 worth of unworn clothes in their wardrobes, thanks to 43% admitting that they hold onto clothes that they have bought but don’t even like. With clothing accounting for nearly a quarter of all second-hand purchases made in the UK in 2022^[1], there’s money to be made from turning pre-loved items into new-found fits.

The study by Samsung UK reveals that almost half (48%) would prefer to recycle or re-sell their clothes than throw them away, yet a fifth find it too much effort and over a third (39%) have given up on the selling process altogether because they found it too hard to do the clothes justice through photos.

Despite wanting to rehome their unwanted wardrobes, more than half of UK adults (55%) admit they have thrown wearable clothing in the bin, with a third (34%) feeling guilty about doing so.

A third of young adults who have sold pre-loved clothing online, have made an average of £350 from their efforts, with 20% bringing in £500 or more. So, what’s getting in the way of selling success for many? Unclear descriptions, poor quality pictures and price top the list of things that put off buyers when browsing second-hand sites and making purchasing decisions.

With the UK’s appetite to re-sell more clothes and the nations wardrobes overflowing with unworn yet still tagged items (30%), Samsung UK is on a mission to arm the nation with tips, tricks and tech tools to help. Teaming up with Tasha Ghouri, a huge advocate for pre-loved clothing, Samsung UK reveals top tips to second-hand selling success.

Tashi Ghouri said: “Selling clothes online is about to become your next side hustle. Putting the effort in to capture the best photos for your online listing will help you sell more items, for better prices and and at faster pace.

When I shop second-hand, I always want to see what it looks like with someone wearing it, so make sure you capture pictures with you in it to drive more interest. With Samsung’s Z Flip4, I like how I can take pictures hands-free at any angle with Flex Mode, so even if no one’s in to take my pictures, I know I can still capture the items looking their best.”

Thinking no one would want their old clothes (25%) and not being bothered (26%) also add to the reasons the eco-conscious are not giving their unworn items a second life.

Despite the obstacles putting people off, the research found that 24% do want to buy second-hand clothes and 22% want to sell more of them.

Ashrita Seshadri, Head of Brand Marketing Samsung UK, said: “People are clearly wanting to find alternatives to throwing away their unwanted clothes, but many are feeling held back by the thought and process of reselling. We want to arm everyone with the tools to get better quality pictures and videos that do their pre-loved garments justice.”

Find out more tips and tricks to on the Samsung KX Hub here

[1] Nationwide survey by Statista: https://www.statista.com/forecasts/997906/second-hand-purchases-by-category-in-the-uk