Shropshire shoppers say pre-loved gifts are the most thoughtful, original and romantic

As gifting season approaches, one in three shoppers across the county say the most thoughtful, original, or romantic presents to give are second-hand, according to a new survey of more than 4,000 UK adults for Amazon by OnePoll.

Shropshire shoppers also estimate that 22% of what they already own is pre-loved, while one in five believe the majority of their purchases will be second hand by 2027.

When it comes to gifting, one in three shoppers feel that pre-loved or nearly-new gifts are the most romantic, original, or thoughtful, according to the survey. One in four also believe it feels better for the environment to be gifted something which isn’t brand new.

Shropshire shoppers intend to cut down on new purchases by 31% in the next two years, with more than one in three saying they get more of an endorphin rush finding pre-owned items than buying them new. Almost half think the endorphin rush of buying pre-owned is due to the quality often being as good as buying new, while a further 42% feel the rush is because it reduces the impact on the environment.

Almost half of shoppers are also keen to buy more pre-loved items in the next two years – intending to cut down on their new purchases by 31%. And almost one in three make sure their homes stay clutter-free by following a ‘one-in-one-out’ policy at home - donating or selling items they already own to make way for new possessions.

Gareth Davies, General Manager at Amazon in Coventry, said: “It’s great to see people actively planning to purchase non-new items even more in the future. As well as being better for the environment, second-hand items are often more affordable. The second-hand economy is growing quickly, and as Christmas approaches, we expect to see a big uptick in people searching for refurbished or pre-loved items for their friends and family members.”

Sam Littlejohn, Head of Returns and Repairs at Amazon, added: “It’s clear that pre-loved and refurbished gifts are celebrated as much for their quality as their uniqueness. This is reflected on our store - with sales of second-hand goods in the UK rising by 15 per cent over the past two years alone.

“People are finding that such gifts show a level of care and thoughtfulness that stands out, especially at a time when individuality is cherished and people are looking for bargains. As this trend continues, we expect to see it become a staple part of how people think about gifting, adding a new layer of meaning to special occasions."