HIGH POINT — The popularity of secondhand items continues to grow as consumers look for budget-friendly products in every merchandise category, including furniture and home decor. And along with the usual physical locations like vintage shops, antique retailers and thrift stores, online “recommerce” is enjoying a boon in user engagement as evidenced by platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Shop Goodwill.
Ken Murphy is chief innovation officer for OfferUp, a recommerce platform created to support local buying and selling. In an exclusive interview with Furniture Today, Murphy pointed out that OfferUp is well-positioned for continued growth as U.S. consumers continue to embrace the recommerce concept, and he outlined what the company is doing to support its users on both sides of the transaction.
“OfferUp is built for local buying and selling, making it easy for people to post items, find great deals and connect within their communities,” Murphy said. “We prioritize convenience and community, allowing shoppers to browse, negotiate and pick up items right in their own communities.”
Murphy noted that OfferUp differs from many other recommerce apps in that it includes a wide range of items for sale rather than a single product category.
“OfferUp offers a wide range of items from furniture and electronics to cars, apparel and more. People turn to OfferUp to find variety close to home,” he said.
The safety of users is a top priority for OfferUp, according to Murphy. He explains that the company has invested in features such as identity verification, ratings and reviews, and local Community MeetUp Spots to help users feel more secure when involved in a transaction, adding that recommerce works best when people trust the process.
Along with the safety features, Murphy and the OfferUp team are using forecasts and anecdotal insights to build out customer profiles. He said that Gen Z and Millennials are “driving a major shift in how people shop, especially when it comes to home goods,” adding that recommerce is a big part of the equation.
“Our 2024 Recommerce Report found that, during the holidays, 83% of Gen Z planned to spend part of their budget on secondhand gifts, with more than a third saying they love the thrill of finding a unique, perfect pre-loved item,” said Murphy. “Many first-time renters and homeowners turn to OfferUp to furnish their spaces affordably, especially with rising costs pushing more people to look for budget-friendly and sustainable ways to shop. We’re also seeing a steady increase in first-time resale shoppers, with 44% saying they started buying because of the availability of high-quality secondhand finds.”
However, younger consumers are not the only buyers and sellers on OfferUp. Murphy said that his team has heard from interior designers, real estate agents staging homes and boutique store owners who use OfferUp to find “unique, high-quality pieces for clients.” He said vintage furniture, mid-century modern items and designer decor are often offered at a fraction of retail price, making OfferUp “a resource for those professionals looking for standout pieces.”
“We’ve seen shifts in behavior driven by economic conditions, but the bigger trend is that recommerce continues to grow year over year as more people embrace secondhand shopping,” Murphy said. “When there is a significant contraction in supply, as we saw during the pandemic’s supply chain disruptions, secondhand buyer demand increases. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, we saw big surges in secondhand shopping for home office furniture like desks, chairs and monitors saw a surge as people scrambled to set up work-from-home spaces.”
If tariffs create supply constraints, Murphy expects that user traffic will continue to increase in response. The treasure hunt aspect of recommerce platforms like OfferUp also adds a layer of excitement to the purchase journey, Murphy explains.
“In short, scarcity drives demand, and a secondhand app, such as OfferUp, is where people turn when retail options are limited, lack good quality and become more expensive. We see everything from high-end designer furniture (think Eames chairs and Restoration Hardware sofas) to rare coin collections and antiques.
“Then, there are the hyper-local treasures, items with history and character such as reclaimed wood from a historic home or handcrafted tables from a local artisan. It’s a reminder that secondhand shopping isn’t just about saving money; it’s also about quality and unique finds.”
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