Although Quebec's economy is theoretically in recession, more and more consumers are turning to second-hand goods to complement their holiday purchases.
Miriam Ertz, director of the Research Laboratory on New Forms of Consumption at the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi (UQAC), attributes this phenomenon to the rise in popularity of websites such as Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji, in particular. and LesPAC.
In 2015, researchers, including Professor Ertz, created the Kijiji Second-hand Economy Index, a large study measuring the purchasing practices of Canadians for used goods and their impact on the economy. Since then, this trend has increased, points out Miriam Ertz, who sees a direct correlation with the current economic situation.
Rate rise with inflation, [les acheteurs] Moving further towards more economical options.
And prizes are not excluded: [C’est] Buying second-hand products to give to other people is a practice that has become normalized over time
The most popular purchases, Professor Ertz cites, are toys, board games, fashion accessories (such as handbags), books and electronic products, which are often refurbished.
Miriam Ertz is Professor of Marketing at the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi. (archive photo)
Photo: Radio-Canada
A trend more noticeable in children
On rue Saint-Denis, Montreal, Arthur et Juno, owner of Audrey Avinette, sells toys and used children's clothing. She notices that her client base triples in the weeks leading up to the holidays: There is a trend […] Mostly used for Christmas gifts. More and more people are also telling their families: “I want a second-hand one for Christmas.”
Its customers cite not only their environmental values, but also their finances as their primary motivation. This is the case of Pierre-Anne Bilodeau who bought second-hand designer clothes for her niece.
[C’est] Really good for the environment and what's more, [les enfants] Get through it very quickly! […] I don't think it's necessarily worth the investment.
On the other hand, a few kilometers away, on Boulevard Saint-Laurent, Jennifer Desmoules, a consultant at the retro boutique La Pompadour, laments that some customers still hesitate to give used items as gifts. However, she emphasizes that period goods are often unique and of high quality, creating nostalgia with consumers.
Following a survey published on the company's Instagram account, the advisor stated There are several prohibitions regarding the purchase [un présent] It is already used
. For example, even if the store cleans the goods before selling them, those who receive them believe that second-hand appliances are less hygienic than new ones.
Jennifer Desmoules, a consultant at retro boutique La Pompadour, laments that some consumers are still hesitant to give used items as gifts.
Photo: Radio-Canada
However, as Professor Miriam Ertz observes, the economic argument will one day prevail over these preconceptions: Second-hand products are often four to five times cheaper than new ones, so when we have a complicated economic situation like we are in right now, people, naturally, turn to these types of options.
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