For Founders

Have you ever stopped to think about where your recent purchases came from? How much of what you’ve brought into your life lately was brand new, versus having already lived a life, however gentle, in someone else’s hands? A recent study of global consumer spending habits (excluding the huge Chinese market, the significant spending on cars, the often unique world of antiques, and even factoring out Value Added Tax) shows a surprisingly consistent picture. Despite the growing push for sustainability and mindful consumption, it seems like our hearts still beat overwhelmingly for that classic “new car smell” – and this preference goes way beyond cars, affecting our choices in everything from the clothes we wear to the gadgets in our kitchens. The data is clear and shows that the secondhand market for consumer goods is surprisingly small on a global scale. Let’s break down these figures to understand their meaning better. For every big $100 that consumers spend on things like clothes and ac...