The boom in second-hand shops across the county

THERE’S a boom in second-hand shops in Leicestershire, as savvy shoppers continue to move away from fast fashion.

New figures from the Office for National Statistics have revealed that charity shops and other second-hand retailers are thriving in our county.

There are currently around 170 second-hand shops across Leicestershire - up from 165 in 2018, and an increase of 42% from the number seen in 2010.

That year there were only 120 second-hand shops in our area, and the number has been rising ever since.

The figure includes things like second-hand book shops as well as charity shops and vintage clothing stores, but excludes antique dealers.

Leicester has seen the biggest increase in Leicestershire over the last 10 years, with the number of secondhand shops increasing by 57% from 35 in 2010 to 55 in 2019.

There are several suggested reasons for the rise of second-hand shops in recent years.

One is that charity shops tend to appear where other shops fail because they pay far less in business rates.

That means if you suddenly see a lot of charity shops in your area, it might be because other shops are struggling.

The increase in these shops may also be linked to the fact that many of us now have less disposable income than we once did.

However, there is also a link to the rise in ethical consumerism.

The figures come at a time when shoppers are becoming more aware of the impact of the fashion industry, both on the environment and the workers who make the clothes.

There’s been a move away from “fast fashion” - clothes that are made quickly and cheaply, and that are often not designed to last a long time, meaning they can end up being thrown away quickly too.

Instead, many consumers are turning towards more sustainable options, including pre-loved items.

A poll conducted earlier this year by waste management agency BusinessWaste.co.uk found that in the UK, almost half of people said they would buy pre-owned clothes.

Mark Hall, communications director of the agency, said: “People are turning to second-hand clothing - not just out of financial necessity, but out of choice.

“There’s a huge opportunity here for retailers to improve their green credentials and tap into a growing number of consumers who would like to buy stylish clothing, but without the ethical concerns.

“Some well-known retailers already feature vintage or pre-loved selections in store and there’s clearly room for these to be more widely available - consumers still have the benefit of shopping curated lines of secondhand pieces in line with their preferred style, but without the environmental impact.”

The boom in second-hand stores seen in Leicestershire reflects a national trend.

Across the UK, there are now 11,290 second-hand shops - up from 11,215 in 2018, and an increase of 32% since 2010, when there were 8,550.