A survey by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) has found that 64 per cent of shoppers in Cardiff now choose pre-loved products every month.
This ‘re-use, reduce, recycle’ generation of mindful shoppers is becoming more cost savvy and environmentally conscious, with more than one in 10 (18%) choosing to shop pre-loved every single week.
The charity retailer, which has 680 shops across the UK including three in Cardiff, found that a third of shoppers in the area (33%) prefer to wait for a second hand deal rather than buy something new right away.
The cost of living (62%) and sustainability (25%) remain the primary reason for most people in Cardiff shopping second hand
Furniture is top of the shopping list for almost four in 10 second-hand shoppers (39%), compared to 30 per cent who are most likely to be looking for clothes and 12 per cent looking for bargain toys.
Further findings show that nearly half of all shoppers surveyed in Cardiff (47%) have had to delay buying furniture they need as they could not afford it.
Of the 4,504 people surveyed by Censuswide across the UK, respondents from Cardiff estimate they have at least four pieces of second-hand furniture in their house, with one in three (34%) planning to buy pre-loved furniture this year.
The announcement kicks off the month of Reuse Revolution – a British Heart Foundation campaign raising awareness of the benefits of shopping and donating – preventing good quality items from ending up in landfill, saving consumers money and helping to fund lifesaving research.
Allison Swaine-Hughes, Retail Director at the British Heart Foundation, said:
“We love that people in Cardiff and across the UK are becoming more pre-loved savvy, and we’re not surprised! We know our customers love shopping in our stores, and online, and no matter what your shopping habit – whether you’re buying cardigans in Cardiff, books in Bangor or cabinets in Caerphilly, you can visit your local British Heart Foundation shop, or browse our online stores, to pick-up some unique bargains.
This month we are asking the public to join the Reuse Revolution and shop, upcycle or donate second hand furniture, homeware, clothes and toys while helping to raise funds for life saving heart research.”
In a year, the BHF saves over 54,000 tonnes of goods from going to waste, including 186,000 sofas and armchairs.
Find your nearest British Heart Foundation shop here.