Blog for Consignment Store Owners & Resale Industry | SimpleConsign

Reflecting on 2024: A Year of Growth and Innovation in Resale

Written by SimpleConsign | Dec 20, 2024 4:00:00 PM

As 2024 draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the incredible strides the resale and consignment industry has made this year. From consumer interest in sustainable shopping to advancements in technology that streamline operations for shop owners, the industry has never been more vibrant. 

For us at SimpleConsign, this year has been all about fostering community, enhancing our product, and empowering resale businesses to thrive. Let’s dive into the key trends and highlights of 2024.

Resale Industry Trends: Sustainability, Growth, and Innovation

The resale market has experienced exponential growth, driven by shifting consumer priorities and economic pressures. According to ThredUp’s 2024 Resale Report, the secondhand market is projected to reach $77 billion by 2025, growing 9x faster than the broader retail sector. This rapid expansion highlights the increasing consumer interest for affordable, sustainable, and unique shopping options.

Key Trends in 2024

Sustainability: Sustainability remains at the heart of resale. Shoppers are prioritizing eco-friendly choices, with 74% of consumers saying they’d rather buy secondhand than new to reduce waste.

Increase in Popularity for Online Resale: Online resale grew significantly in 2024. Local consignment shops are also leveraging online tools, like Facebook Live auctions, to expand their reach.

Diverse Categories in Resale: Beyond clothing, categories like furniture, sporting goods, and luxury handbags have seen immense growth. This opens new opportunities for resale businesses to cater to niche markets.

Community-Driven Shopping: Shoppers are seeking more than just a transaction; they want a sense of connection. Community events, in-store experiences, and local resale networks make all the difference for shoppers.

Understanding Today's Resale Shoppers

  • 82% of resale shoppers are motivated by cost savings, but 67% also value reducing their environmental impact. 
  • Brick-and-mortar consignment stores saw a 10% increase in foot traffic as shoppers returned to in-person experiences post-pandemic.\
  • Social commerce, including live-selling events, contributed to over $10 billion in resale sales this year.

*Stats from ThredUp's 2024 Resale Report

SimpleConsign's 2024 Recap: Product Updates and Milestones

At SimpleConsign, our mission is to empower consignment and resale shops with tools that make their businesses more efficient and successful. This year, we introduced several product updates and initiatives designed to help you grow.

Major Product Updates & Launches

AI-Automated Item Entry

In 2024, we launched our dynamic AI-powered feature to simplify inventory management and pricing. This tool analyzes market trends to suggest optimal prices for your items, saving you time and boosting profitability.

Store Insights Improved Reporting Capabilities:

Our Store Insights page provides you with key data to help you make informed decisions and optimize your business. From sales trends to inventory management, you can track everything in one place to ensure your store is running smoothly. Explore Store Insights here.

Consignor Scheduling

Consignor Scheduling was created to help you stay organized by letting you schedule drop-off times, track consignor activity, and keep everything running smoothly. No more scheduling headaches—just more time to focus on what you do best. Check it out and see how it can make your life a little simpler! 

Enhanced Customer Support

The launch of our new Help Center was a major milestone this year. Featuring step by step instructions, video tutorials, comprehensive FAQs, and more. It’s your go-to resource for mastering SimpleConsign.

We've made some exciting updates over the past year! To help you stay in the loop, we've compiled all the changes and improvements in one place. Check out the full details on our What's New page and see how we've been working to enhance your SimpleConsign experience. View the updates here.

Community and Content Highlights

This year, we didn’t just focus on our product—we also invested in building a strong community around resale and consignment.

The Resale Network

We officially launched The Resale Network on National Consignment Day. It’s more than just our expansive content hub powered by SimpleConsign—it’s a community where shop owners come together to share ideas, host events, and grow their businesses side by side. There’s more to come in 2025 including a dedicated digital space on LinkedIn and possibly, our first ever, TRN in person event. If you haven’t joined yet, become a member here. 

In-Person Events & Virtual Webinars

What a year it’s been! We launched our in-person events in Boston and Chicago, and they were a huge success—bringing the community together to share stories and ideas was truly inspiring. We also hosted over 8 webinars on topics ranging from Mastering Customer Trust in Luxury Resale to The Secret to Growing Your Business by 135% in a Year. And this is just the beginning—2025 has even more exciting plans in store!

Educational Content

Our blog and resources grew significantly in 2024. Popular posts like 8 Tips for Launching Your Consignment Business, Consignment Fees 101: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started, and Tips and Inspiration from Leading Consignment Stores provided actionable insights for shop owners. We also introduced our first downloadable guide, 5 Proven Marketing Tactics to Grow Your Consignment Business. If you have ideas for more guides or content, we’re all ears! 

Looking Ahead to 2025

As we prepare for 2025, we’re excited about what’s to come. Here’s a sneak peek at what you can expect from SimpleConsign:

More In-Person Events: Building on the success of this year’s events, we’re planning more exciting things for 2025! Starting in February, we will be hosting events in Dallas and Houston

Photos from our in-person events

More Partnerships: Stay tuned for partnerships within the resale community. 

More Valuable Content: We have a packed content roadmap for 2025, including blogs, webinars, and more! If you have anything specific you would like to learn about, please let us know! 

Thank You for an Incredible Year

We want to thank each of you—our customers, partners, and community members—for making 2024 an unforgettable year. Your passion for sustainability, creativity, and entrepreneurship drives everything we do.

As you reflect on your own successes this year, know that we’re here to support you every step of the way. If you have any specific highlights you’d like to showcase, let us know, and we’d be happy to feature them on our customer press page!  Let’s continue to grow, innovate, and make an impact in the resale industry together.

Here’s to an amazing 2025!