Industry Analysis & Industry Trends
The Second-Hand Goods Stores industry appears to be thriving in the face of economic turmoil in the United Kingdom. Higher unemployment, low consumer confidence and falling disposable incomes are driving consumers to seek out bargains to stretch their pounds further. The market for second-hand items grew strongly over 2008-09 as the reality of the recession hit consumers. Revenue has remained high since then.
The industry has faced growing competition both internally and externally. Low barriers to entry and low start-up costs have made way for many new entrants into the market. There has also been increasing competition from value stores including Primark, Peacocks and Matalan, as well as major supermarkets... purchase to read more
Industry Report - Industry Investment Chapter
The Second-Hand Goods Stores industry relies on volunteers to run its stores. As a part of the retail industry, there is a significant reliance on customer service and satisfaction. As a result, the industry is regarded as being labour-intensive, requiring the employment of friendly staff with excellent customer service skills. Besides their involvement in handling and processing sales, employees are required to restock display shelves, manage inventory and provide customers with assistance. In 2012-13, for every £1 spent on wages, industry operators will typically spend £0.11 on capital expenses and therefore, the industry has a low level of capital intensity.
Capital expenditure in the industry is limited to store fixtures and fittings, and cash registers... purchase to read more