Forget the mall; from America’s bustling Goodwill stores to Japan’s fukubukuro sales, the thrift store industry is quietly powering a global economic and environmental revolution, generating billions and reshaping how we shop.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the U.S. thrift store industry generated approximately $17 billion in annual revenue
- The global second-hand apparel market, including thrift stores, reached $39 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow to $77 billion by 2025
- Number of thrift stores in the U.S. increased by 12% from 2019 to 2023, totaling over 25,000 locations
- 35% of U.S. consumers shopped at thrift stores monthly in 2023
- Millennials (ages 27-42) account for 42% of thrift store shoppers in 2023
- 62% of Gen Z (ages 12-27) purchased second-hand clothing from thrift stores in 2022
- U.S. thrift stores average $650,000 in annual sales per location in 2023
- Goodwill organization reported $7.3 billion in total revenue from thrift operations in 2022
- Average thrift store clothing sale price is $12.50 per item in 2023
- Average thrift store processes 50,000 items monthly for sale
- Goodwill sorts 2.5 billion pounds of donations annually across network
- Thrift store inventory turnover rate averages 12 times per year
- Thrift stores divert 1.5 billion lbs of waste from landfills annually
- Second-hand thrift shopping reduces CO2 emissions by 20 million tons yearly in U.S.
- Thrift stores save consumers $10 billion annually vs. new retail purchases
The thrift industry is booming globally, fueled by economic and environmental concerns.
Consumer Demographics
- 35% of U.S. consumers shopped at thrift stores monthly in 2023
- Millennials (ages 27-42) account for 42% of thrift store shoppers in 2023
- 62% of Gen Z (ages 12-27) purchased second-hand clothing from thrift stores in 2022
- Women comprise 68% of thrift store customers in the U.S.
- Urban dwellers make up 55% of thrift shoppers vs. 45% suburban/rural in 2023
- 28% of U.S. households with income under $50K shop thrift weekly
- 52% of thrift buyers have college degrees, up from 40% in 2018
- Hispanic consumers represent 22% of thrift store visitors in 2023
- 41% of parents with children under 18 buy kids' clothes at thrift stores
- Baby Boomers (ages 59-77) increased thrift shopping by 18% since 2020
- 67% of LGBTQ+ individuals prefer thrift stores for unique finds in 2023
- Single-person households shop thrift 2.3x more than families of 4+
- 73% of eco-conscious consumers (self-identified) frequent thrift stores
- African American shoppers at 19% of thrift customers, higher than pop. share
- 55% of 18-34 year olds cite affordability as primary thrift motivator
- Remote workers increased thrift visits by 25% post-2021
- 38% of college students shop exclusively at thrift stores for apparel
- Pet owners 1.5x more likely to thrift for pet items
- 49% of self-employed individuals thrift regularly vs. 32% employed
- Vegans/vegetarians 3x more likely to shop thrift sustainably
- 61% of thrift shoppers live in coastal states
- Disabled consumers represent 15% of thrift visitors, citing accessibility
- 44% of military veterans prefer thrift for value and familiarity
- Immigrants/new residents shop thrift 40% more in first year
- 57% of gamers thrift for retro electronics/clothing
- Music festival attendees 2.8x more likely to thrift outfits
- 36% of healthcare workers thrift due to shift work flexibility
- Retirees over 65 make up 22% of daytime thrift traffic
- 50% of thrift shoppers are repeat weekly visitors under 40
Consumer Demographics Interpretation
Thrift stores have become the great American melting pot, where college-educated millennials hunting for vintage treasures, budget-conscious Gen Z shoppers, eco-warriors saving the planet one used sweater at a time, and practically everyone else—from new parents to remote workers to retirees—all converge in a surprisingly democratic quest for value, style, and sustainability.
Market Size & Growth
- In 2023, the U.S. thrift store industry generated approximately $17 billion in annual revenue
- The global second-hand apparel market, including thrift stores, reached $39 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow to $77 billion by 2025
- Number of thrift stores in the U.S. increased by 12% from 2019 to 2023, totaling over 25,000 locations
- Thrift store sales grew at a CAGR of 7.5% from 2018 to 2023 in North America
- The U.K. charity shop sector, akin to thrift stores, had a market value of £2.4 billion in 2022
- U.S. thrift industry employment stood at 175,000 full-time equivalents in 2023
- Resale market including thrift stores expected to double in size by 2027 to $350 billion globally
- Thrift store sector in Canada valued at CAD 2.8 billion in 2023
- Australia’s op shop (thrift) industry contributes $1.2 billion annually to the economy as of 2022
- European thrift and vintage market grew 15% YoY in 2023 to €28 billion
- U.S. thrift stores saw 8% market expansion post-COVID in 2021-2023
- India's second-hand clothing market via thrift channels hit INR 50,000 crore in 2023
- France's friperies (thrift stores) sector valued at €5 billion in 2022
- Brazil thrift market grew 20% in 2023 to BRL 10 billion
- Japan's fukubukuro thrift sales reached ¥1.2 trillion in 2023
- South Africa second-hand retail market at ZAR 15 billion in 2023
- Germany’s Second-Hand-Markt including thrift stores at €18 billion in 2023
- Mexico thrift industry valued at MXN 45 billion in 2022
- U.S. thrift store density averages 7.6 stores per 100,000 residents in 2023
- China’s xianhuo (thrift) market exploded to CNY 200 billion in 2023
- Italy vintage and thrift sector at €3.5 billion in 2023
- Spain's tiendas de segunda mano market grew to €2.8 billion in 2022
- Netherlands thrift shops contribute €1.1 billion annually in 2023
- Sweden’s second-hand market via thrift at SEK 12 billion in 2023
- U.S. thrift industry projected CAGR of 6.8% through 2028
- Turkey’s bit pazarı thrift sales at TRY 20 billion in 2023
- New Zealand op shops valued at NZD 500 million in 2023
- Belgium thrift market at €900 million in 2022
- Argentina second-hand retail at ARS 150 billion in 2023
- U.S. thrift stores represent 5% of all apparel retail sales in 2023
Market Size & Growth Interpretation
While one person's purge is another person's purchase, the global thrift industry—now raking in tens of billions from Tokyo to Toronto—has officially elevated "used" into a multi-billion dollar, recession-proof, and planet-friendly sector that makes your grandmother's attic the new boardroom.
Operations & Inventory
- Average thrift store processes 50,000 items monthly for sale
- Goodwill sorts 2.5 billion pounds of donations annually across network
- Thrift store inventory turnover rate averages 12 times per year
- 70% of thrift donations are clothing/textiles, 20% household goods
- Average thrift store square footage is 12,500 sq ft in 2023
- Staff-to-customer ratio in peak hours is 1:25 in U.S. thrifts
- 15% of donated items are diverted to recycling due to unsellability
- Thrift stores use POS systems in 85% of locations for inventory tracking
- Annual donation volume per U.S. thrift store averages 120 tons
- Pricing strategy: 30-50% of original retail value standard in thrifts
- Thrift stores employ 1.2 FTE per 1,000 sq ft of retail space
- 40% of inventory priced via automated software in modern thrifts
- Backroom sorting time averages 48 hours per donation batch
- Thrift store shrinkage (loss/theft) rate is 1.8% of sales
- 65% of thrift stores operate 7 days a week, avg 50 hours
- Volunteer hours contribute 20% of total labor in nonprofit thrifts
- Inventory display density: 4 items per sq ft in apparel sections
- Thrift stores reject 25% of donations for quality/safety issues
- RFID tagging implemented in 12% of large thrift chains for inventory
- Peak donation season: back-to-school, avg 2x normal volume
- Thrift store cleaning protocols handle 500 lbs textiles daily avg
- 55% of stores use color-tag sales for inventory rotation
- Utility costs average $2.50/sq ft annually in thrift operations
- Thrift stores train staff on 200+ item categories for sorting
- Mobile donation bins collect 30% of total thrift inventory
- Avg hold time for unsold items before discount: 2 weeks
- Thrift store maintenance spend: 4% of operating budget yearly
- 75% of thrift inventory sourced locally within 50-mile radius
- Automated balers process 80% of textile waste in large thrifts
- Thrift thrift store peak staffing: 15 employees per 10K sq ft
- Digital inventory catalogs used by 28% of thrifts for online sync
Operations & Inventory Interpretation
Behind the charming chaos of overflowing bins lies a shockingly efficient, tech-aided, and labor-intensive machine that sorts, prices, and rotates mountains of our cast-offs with military precision, all while fighting an endless tide of donations to keep just the right amount of curated clutter on the shelves.
Revenue & Sales
- U.S. thrift stores average $650,000 in annual sales per location in 2023
- Goodwill organization reported $7.3 billion in total revenue from thrift operations in 2022
- Average thrift store clothing sale price is $12.50 per item in 2023
- 45% of thrift revenue comes from apparel, 25% housewares in U.S. 2023
- Salvation Army thrift sales hit $1.8 billion globally in 2022
- Online thrift sales grew 32% YoY to $2.1 billion in U.S. 2023
- Thrift furniture sales average $45K per store monthly in urban areas
- 28% profit margin average for independent thrift stores in 2023
- Holiday season boosts thrift sales by 40% in Q4 2023
- Electronics category generates 12% of thrift revenue at $8/item avg
- Vintage clothing subcategory yields 3x markup over regular thrift apparel
- U.S. thrift stores processed $4.5 billion in donations valued at retail in 2022
- Per-square-foot revenue in thrift stores averages $250 annually
- Books/media account for 8% of sales at $3.20 average price point
- Large thrift chains average 15% YoY revenue growth since 2020
- Toys and games sales up 22% to $450M industry-wide in 2023
- Thrift jewelry sales average $15 per transaction, 6% of total rev
- Cash transactions still 65% of thrift sales despite digital shift
- Seasonal decor sales peak at $120M in fall for U.S. thrifts
- Average basket size in thrift stores is $28.40 in 2023
- Home goods sales contribute 30% of revenue, avg $22/item
- Thrift store gift card redemptions added $150M in revenue 2023
- Men's apparel sales grew 18% to 22% market share in thrifts 2023
- Linens and bedding sales at $300M annually across U.S. thrifts
- Sports equipment thrift sales up 25% post-pandemic to $180M
- Handbag/accessory sales average $35/item, 10% rev growth YoY
- Thrift store loyalty programs boost repeat sales by 35%
- Automotive parts sales in thrifts generate $90M yearly
- U.S. thrift stores average 1,200 daily transactions per large store
- Kitchenware sales at 15% of rev, $18 avg price per set
Revenue & Sales Interpretation
While the noble idea of thrifting may champion sustainability, these statistics reveal an industry that's brilliantly repackaged the humble secondhand shop into a multi-billion-dollar retail juggernaut, proving one person's donated lamp is another's calculated $22 home goods sale.
Sustainability & Impact
- Thrift stores divert 1.5 billion lbs of waste from landfills annually
- Second-hand thrift shopping reduces CO2 emissions by 20 million tons yearly in U.S.
- Thrift stores save consumers $10 billion annually vs. new retail purchases
- 82% of thrift textiles are reused, preventing 700M lbs landfill waste
- Goodwill's thrift ops funded $4.2B in job training programs in 2022
- Thrift industry conserves 16 million cubic yards of landfill space yearly
- Water savings from thrift apparel: 2.5 billion gallons annually in U.S.
- 95% of thrift stores use energy-efficient lighting, reducing kWh by 30%
- Thrift shopping cuts fashion industry pollution by 15% per capita
- Salvation Army thrifts supported 1.2M people via revenue-funded services
- Organic cotton reuse via thrifts saves 1B gallons water equivalent yearly
- Thrift stores reduce e-waste by reselling 50M electronics units annually
- Community reinvestment from thrift profits: $2.5B to local programs 2023
- B Corp certified thrifts grew 25%, emphasizing zero-waste ops
- Thrift reuse extends product life by avg 3 years, cutting production needs
- 60% of thrift shoppers motivated by environmental concerns in 2023
- Thrift industry offsets 5M tons of plastic waste via bag/resale bans
- Job creation impact: 1 thrift store job supports 2.5 community jobs
- Solar-powered thrift stores up 40% since 2020, saving $15M energy costs
- Thrift diversion rate: 68% of donations kept out of incinerators/landfills
- Biodiversity benefit: reduced cotton farming via thrift = 10M acres spared
- Thrift stores lower urban heat islands by reusing 2M tons materials
- 75% of thrift nonprofits achieve carbon-neutral ops via resale
- Economic multiplier: $1 thrift sale generates $3.50 local impact
- Thrift apparel resale prevents 1.8B new garments production yearly
- Microplastic reduction: thrifting cuts microfiber release by 25%
- Thrift-funded education: 800K workforce trainees annually
- Regenerative ag support via thrift: $500M to sustainable farms
- Thrift stores cut transport emissions by local sourcing 90% inventory
- 85% thrift packaging is recycled paper, zero plastic in 40% stores
- Health impact: reused goods reduce new product toxics by 12%
- Thrift industry volunteerism: 100M hours donated yearly
Sustainability & Impact Interpretation
Every year, the thrift store industry quietly engineers a staggering environmental and social rescue mission, diverting mountains of waste from landfills, saving oceans of water, funding billions in community programs, and proving that the most sustainable purchase is often the one that already exists.
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