The Clothing Resale Industry Is Thriving

A High-Growth, Recession-Resilient Opportunity

Uptown Cheapskate sits at the center of the booming clothing resale industry. Driven by an explosion of interest in the space, particularly with younger generations, the secondhand apparel market in the U.S. has nearly doubled to $49BN over the past 5 years and is showing no signs of slowing down. What’s more, with recession-resilient characteristics, the industry is poised to thrive in any economic climate.

An Accelerating Shift To Resale

U.S. secondhand apparel market is forecasted to grow to $74BN by 2029
Resale has grown 5x faster than the broader retail clothing sector
The appeal of resale is particularly pronounced for Millennials and Gen Z
Shopping resale helps support a more sustainable future
Resale typically thrives in challenging economic environments

“The secondhand clothing industry is exploding right now. We’re seeing a tremendous rise in the popularity of resale shopping, which has translated into strong growth in both customer traffic and profitability for our stores.”

- Tyler Gordon

Co-CEO of BaseCamp Franchising

- Chelsea Sloan Carroll

Co-Founder

Uptown’s Edge

Looking across the resale landscape, Uptown offers a unique combination of attributes that is impossible to replicate. Beyond our commitment to everyday value and high-quality assortment, our stores also represent an ethical way to shop, helping keep millions of items out of landfills every year. When you layer on our leadership in innovation and strong community orientation, it’s no surprise that Uptown Cheapskate is the fastest growing concept in resale.

Strong Alignment With Sustainability

Today more than ever, consumers are paying close attention to how their purchasing decisions impact the environment. That awareness is particularly acute with younger generations, including the highly valuable Gen Z demographic.

In the United States, the average customer buys a staggering amount of clothing, and most of those items end up in landfills. That’s where Uptown Cheapskate enters the picture. By giving some of those same items a second or third life, Uptown contributes meaningfully to environmental sustainability. In 2024 alone, Uptown Cheapskate and its sister brand Kid to Kid kept over 25 million items out of landfills and recently surpassed 225 million used items sold since inception!

“There is a high cost for shopping new and customers are waking up to the fact that fast-fashion brands are big polluters. Oil is the #1 polluting industry in the world, and fashion is #2. By shopping in our stores, customers are not only able to look good and save money, but also help support the environment.”

Zach Gordon

Co-CEO

Recession-Resilient Financial Profile

The growth of the resale industry doesn’t stop during economic downturns. If anything, it is during periods of economic turmoil that our hard to miss value proposition really comes into focus. Whether the sun is shining or there are dark clouds on the horizon, Uptown Cheapskate delivers an all-weather financial profile that’s hard to match.

Is Clothing Resale Right For Me?

If you’re entering the clothing resale industry with no prior experience, not to worry! Our franchise owners come from all walks of life, most without any prior retail or business ownership experience. As long as you are highly motivated, a strong team leader, and are committed to a vibrant customer experience, you have the potential to build a thriving business with Uptown Cheapskate.

Reach Out Today!

Ready to stake your claim in the booming clothing resale industry? We can’t wait to hear from you!

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