Greece’s Surging Second-Hand Market

A burgeoning second-hand – or pre-owned – retail sector in Greece now occupies a prominent place in the stats published by the country’s statistical authority, overturning decades of disdain for “used” goods among most Greek consumers.

According to a recent market survey by Focus Bari/YouGov, roughly one in two consumers in Greece has already purchased an item from a retailer specializing in second-hand goods, mostly clothing.

As well as apparel, pre-owned electronic goods, especially smartphones, were purchased by one third of consumers in Greece this year. Based on another survey, 49% percent of consumers in the country are positively inclined towards such purchases.

According to EL.STAT, the Greek statistics service, the specific retail sector in Greece was up 49.7% in the second quarter of 2023 compared with the corresponding quarter in 2022, posting a modest 8.92 million euros in turnover but with forecasts pointing to a rapidly increasing volume in the years ahead.