Reselling in a Recession: Navigating the Uncertainty
Welcome to the Antiques Central blog. This week, what if I told you reselling could both skyrocket and crash in a recession — and that the real truth lies somewhere in between?
So today, we ask the question: is reselling recession-proof?
Let’s start with the bigger picture.
The global second-hand market grew by 15% in 2024 and now accounts for roughly 9% of global consumer spend. That’s not small change.
Even in a challenging economy, reselling remains relevant.
An economic downturn forces consumers and sellers alike to rethink values, margins, sourcing and associated risks and when the stakes are this high, you can’t just sit back and hope for the best. You have to understand the forces at play.
So, what’s your next move when stock dries up, prices rise and buyers tighten their belts?
Do you retreat and wait for better times, or do you double down on second-hand and exploit the shifts in consumer behaviour? In this blog, we’ll explore both sides of the debate, starting with reasons to be optimistic as a reseller.
Here’s the first reason to be optimistic in a recession:
Value shifts.
When prices rise or budgets tighten, people naturally turn to used goods. According to ThredUp’s 2025 report, 59% of consumers say they’ll buy second-hand if global tariffs push up new product prices and for Millennials, that rises to an incredible 69%.
That’s nearly seven out of ten younger shoppers pivoting to resale simply because it makes sense financially.
And the psychology behind this retail reality is fascinating because spending isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet—it’s also about narratives. It’s about the story people tell themselves about ‘what’s smart, what’s safe and what’s worth their hard-earned cash’, because every news alert about inflation, economic slowdown or cost-cutting shapes our behaviour. Shoppers second-guess, businesses pull back and suddenly everyone’s acting as if the recession has already arrived.
Headlines, social commentary, social media chatter — it’s enough to make even the most seasoned seller pause. Just consider for a moment the effect that all the speculation about the upcoming UK November 2025 budget is having on the market. Surely, even a brain-dead fool can see that uncertainty doesn’t do business any favours?
In my opinion and to put it concisely, surely markets and investors crave clarity?
Without clarity, confidence wavers and when confidence wavers, business and growth, to put it bluntly, are kicked squarely in the teeth! If someone can let the Chancellor of the Exchequer know, I’d appreciate it!
The twist.
But here’s the twist, or the irony of you prefer: that same institutional perception shift towards recession can actually fuel resale and buck the downward spiralling trend.
Media coverage on ‘how to save money’ or ‘the rise of thrifting’, combined with social media feeds packed with influencers showing off vintage finds, turns second-hand reselling from stigma to smart. So reselling doesn’t just survive a recession — it can ride it - and in some cases, it can whip its backside into an advantage that other sectors actually envy. So, bear that in mind when there is talk of recession.
Structural Market Growth
The second reason to have confidence in reselling is what I’m calling, structural market growth.
Online resale in the U.S. alone is expected to nearly double over the next five years, reaching 40 billion dollars by around 2030. That’s a huge expansion and it’s being driven by factors far beyond mere economic shifts.
For example, younger buyers increasingly expect resale value to be baked into their purchases. Around 41% of the younger generation say they’re less likely to buy an item if it doesn’t have good resale potential. Think about that for a second. Your inventory isn’t just ‘used stock’ —it’s part of a circular value proposition. In other words, it’s not just a transaction; to the younger generation it’s a story of sustainability, scarcity and smart consumer behaviour.
As an example, in 2024, a part-time reseller I know pivoted their business from selling ‘new fashion’ to reselling used vintage stock when the value of new fashion fell. He focused on rare vintage denim, pricing competitively and adding ‘hashtag resale-value’ to every listing. The result? By switching from new to used, his sales figures held up far better than expected, even as traditional new fashion sales plummeted.
This isn’t just luck on his part — it’s a deliberate and conscious understanding of what drives consumer behaviour and more importantly, it’s an example of how knowing your market can turn potential risk into tangible reward.
Supply and arbitrage opportunities
The third reason for reselling optimism in a recession is supply and arbitrage opportunities and if you don’t know, the term arbitrage simply means buying low in one marketplace, selling higher elsewhere and pocketing the difference in profit. It sounds simple, because it is but its potential impact is anything but simple.
This is how it can work in a recession.
During downturns, big brands slash prices to clear stock, while buyers hunt deals online. That gap, the space between the brand and the consumer, is where you, the reseller, step in. Quality stock becomes temporarily cheaper while the wider consumer market hasn’t caught up and still values it higher. Combine this with supply chain uncertainties, fluctuating global tariffs and sudden disruptions in logistics and resellers can suddenly have access to stock that traditional retailers won’t touch—if they act fast and smart.
As a wise man once said - Timing, as always, is everything.
Competition and profit margin pressure
Of course, reselling isn’t risk-free and in the interest of a balanced blog, we need to consider the other side of the reseller recession debate and examine the negative effects a recession can have on reselling. For example, competition and profit margin pressure are both very real concerns.
In a recession, the resale market does grow, yes, but the easy money has most likely already been grabbed by those who understood the shifts first.
Buyers are smarter, margins shrink and inefficient sellers soon struggle, as every pricing mistake costs you not just money in a recession but also valuable time and energy when you can least afford to lose it.
Operational costs and platform risks
Another cause for concern in a recession is shipping costs, platform fees, returns, fraud and policy changes can all spike during a downturn, cutting directly into your profit margins. If you’re not on top of these business variables, then you need to be!
What I’m actually saying is that reselling isn’t just the fun part - sourcing and listing items - it’s running a business efficiently and anyone who ignores that rule is asking for trouble!
Regulatory and tax exposure
To make matters worse, regulatory and tax exposure adds yet another layer of complexity.
In the UK, platforms like eBay and Vinted report sellers over certain thresholds to HMRC or in other words the tax man (the equivalent of the IRS in the US) and new official guidance makes it clear that if you’re buying to resell, you’re officially trading.
That means taxes, compliance and potential financial penalties. Ignorance of the law in this case isn’t bliss; it’s potential business catastrophe. So, you can’t simply hope it won’t catch up with you—it almost always does and the consequences can wipe out months of hard work in a single oversight.
My advice, for what it’s worth, is to get professional help from an accountant if you think you’re anywhere near the published tax thresholds. That way you can be sure you’re not crossing the line between selling a few of your personal possessions and running a reselling business.
Navigating the maze of modern reselling
So, how can different types of resellers navigate these challenges born of recession?
Part-time resellers should:
· Focus on simplicity
· Keep track of costs
· Stay under thresholds
· Follow the tax and regulatory rules carefully
Side-hustle sellers need to:
· Treat their operation like a mini-business
· Find a clear niche
· Diversify their platforms
· Maintain accurate records
· Pay close attention to profit and sales limits
Full-time sellers should:
· Think like a proper business
· Invest in automation to track returns
· Focus sharply on sales and return on investment per item
· Secure reliable sourcing channels
· Maintain cash buffers for ‘cost shocks’
· Manage risk proactively
· Treat it like a professional business, because in a recession, half-hearted strategies simply fail.
Turning Risk into Opportunity
In summary, when the economy dips, the world doesn’t stop buying—it just changes how it buys and I believe that shift is where opportunities lie for resellers. Recession-proofing isn’t about pretending you’re untouchable. It’s about being agile, being smart and being fully aware of any risk before it smacks you in the face.
As I’ve already mentioned, the second-hand market is growing, consumer habits are evolving and there’s plenty of space for those who do business with purpose and intention. But let’s be honest: profits won’t just fall into your lap. You have to earn them. Move faster, source smarter, run leaner and constantly evaluate your position.
Those who do these things don’t just survive—they come out ahead. This is when reselling stops being a fallback or a failing business and can become a viable, successful, forward-looking business strategy.
So, here’s my question for anyone watching as a reseller: are you treating your business like its truly recession-proof or are you assuming that business as usual will carry you through?
Let me know what you think in the comments below.
Either way, the world is shifting and the second-hand marketplace is evolving. As a result of this shift, I believe timing, knowledge and strategy are everything. Smart resellers don’t wait for the good times to return—they build for what’s next, not what’s been.
The Edge of Opportunity
In my opinion, reselling certainly isn’t bullet-proof but with the right mindset, the right strategy and a willingness to act before others do, reselling could potentially become the smartest business decision you’ve ever made?
That’s the reality of the reseller market.
It’s demanding, it’s nuanced and it rewards those who think critically, act decisively and understand the psychology, perception and underlying forces driving their customers decision making.
My name’s Mark.
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