A new survey conducted by Habitat for Humanity ReStore has revealed the thrifting trend isn’t going anywhere in Canada.
The report shows that more and more Canadians are shopping second-hand. Over half of all Canadians thrift regularly, with 61% of those polled saying they plan to shop second-hand within the next 12 months.
According to the poll, 83% of Canadians view second-hand shopping as something that makes economic sense given the current cost of living in Canada.
There is an environmental factor at play as well, with 83% of Canadians citing concerns about waste. They said they view thrifting as a way to reduce the overall amount of waste produced.
This concern is especially prominent here in BC.
The survey indicates that British Columbians are the most likely in the country to see the environmental benefits of shopping second-hand, with 93% of people agreeing that it makes sense given the amount of waste we produce—around 10% higher than the national average.
The most thrifted items for Canadians include books, clothing, accessories, toys and games. Around half of those polled said they had purchased these items within the last year.
But it’s not just clothes and books, there has also been a rise in people buying items for their homes. Big-ticket items like furniture, kitchenware and home decor are all among the top things that Canadians said they would consider buying used.
Renovation materials are on the list as well, with 31% of Canadians saying they had thrifted items like doors, fixtures, flooring and tile, and over 84% saying they would consider it in the future.
Other findings of the survey include that 61% of Canadians prefer to shop through charitable organizations such as ReStore, and that convenience is also important with proximity to a thrift store cited as a top influence.
“These findings reflect what we’re seeing across our more than 100 ReStore locations throughout Canada,” said Lisa Voycey, director of ReStore at Habitat for Humanity Canada.
“Life is expensive, and shoppers enjoy being able to browse in-store for home finds at great prices, while experiencing the thrill of uncovering something unexpected, all while knowing their purchase helps give back to their local community.”
Here in Victoria we’re no strangers to thrifting culture. With all the environmental and economic benefits, it just makes sense.
