Zalando begins trial of pre-owned clothing category in Europe

Zalando has launched a new offer to its platform, as it introduces the ability to list pre-owned clothes for sale.

The pre-owned category has launched today in Germany and Spain, and will be available in Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Poland in October. Following successful results, the category will be expanded to areas including the UK.

Zalando hopes that its' pre-owned category has the potential to change the way customers think about and interact with pre-owned fashion, as they are presented with one convenient, enjoyable and trustworthy solution.

The new category gives customers access to a curated selection of quality checked items, presented with professional photographs and product details to ensure a consistent look and feel on the platform.

The etailer will accept items from over 3,000 brands, including those that can be found on Zalando as well as other common brands. Items must be in like-new condition without visible signs of use. Customers can trade in up to 20 items per parcel.

Torben Hansen, Vice President of Recommerce at Zalando, said: "Think about it like getting a nice breakfast in your favourite coffee shop. You could make it yourself at home but it’s not the same experience as being served a beautifully arranged meal, that you know will be tasty, without having to do any of the shopping, cooking and cleaning. Curation, quality, and convenience always cost extra, but we happily pay the price if it makes our life easier.

"Zalando Pre-owned does that by eliminating many pain points that customers might face when using other fashion recommerce services; they don’t have to worry about bad pictures, fake brands, negotiating prices or figuring out how to ship items and safely transfer money between buyer and seller."

Earlier this year, the etailer confirmed it will be the first retailer signed up to the Sustainable Apparel Coalition to use a new module that will make sustainability assessments mandatory for its labels and partner brands sold on the platform.