Australia’s biggest festival of pre-loved items, Garage Sale Trail, is returning for a second consecutive weekend on 19 and 20 November.
To celebrate the annual event, PayPal Australia has released research which shows demand for repurposed clothes and homewares is rising in Australia, as shoppers look to sustainability and uniqueness over fast fashion.
Six in 10 (61%) of Australians said they’ve bought pre-loved goods in the past 12 months, with one-in-three (33%) saying they would be more likely to shop garage sales if they could make purchases without having to use cash.
More than three in five Australians (61%) say they have purchased second-hand goods in the past 12 months, and over half (50%) said they will purchase more second-hand should environmental and economic conditions continue to worsen.
The barriers to shopping second-hand continue to turn, with most Australians (89%) agreeing that there is no stigma around thrifting second-hand and vintage items.
Cost and payment methods are also an important factor when it comes to shopping at garage sales, with 38% saying they’d be more likely to shop if they knew the cost of goods before visiting, and 33% saying they’d like to know whether they can purchase without having cash on hand.