Add secondhand clothes to lists for holiday giving, shoppers say

DALLAS — Just when retailers and consumers thought they had a handle on holiday shopping, things have changed again, according to a new survey from Accenture.

Issues of sustainability and security are factoring into people’s thinking, according to the study, which also said shoppers plan to spend an average of $637 on holiday purchases.

A growing group of shoppers say it’s acceptable to buy “vintage” clothing as a gift and wrap it — or not — if saving the environment is a concern. Shoppers said secondhand is OK for gifts either because it’s in vogue or because they’ve become critical of fashion waste.

Half of all shoppers said they approve of greener delivery options, such as waiting for online orders to be bundled into one box to reduce the environmental impact.

Jill Standish, senior managing director and head of Accenture’s global retail practice, said the shopping scene “has entered into an era of responsible retail where consumers are becoming more environmentally and socially conscious and will increasingly turn to brands that not only talk about responsibility but demonstrate it through business practices.”

Some stores are responding to millennials who are selling their used clothing on social media, said Lori Zumwinkle, Accenture’s North American retail lead. ThredUP has added departments in J.C. Penney and Macy’s stores.

Neiman Marcus added a luxury vintage section to its new store in New York’s Hudson Yards and bought a stake in pre-owned handbag retailer Fashionphile. Dallas-based Forty Five Ten also added vintage to its Hudson Yards store.

Young millennials, ages 21 to 27, are quickly adopting the concept of renting clothes for holiday parties. Nationally, 24% of respondents said they are likely to wear a rented outfit when partying this season.

And more shoppers plan to buy in stores versus online due to the inspiration they get from physical stores and to avoid package theft from their doorsteps, Zumwinkle said.

“Stores still matter. Shoppers still value the store experience, with 80% in Dallas saying they plan to shop in stores,” Zumwinkle said. “Retailers are doing a good job of integrating the store and online experience.”