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Asecond-hand shop is a shop which sellsused goods. Secondhand shops are often part of the different parts of the reuse orCircular economy. Different formats of second-hand shop exist, selling in different formats and type of content: from antique stores, to consignment, and various types of thrift or charity shop, where the used goods are sold.
The format of selling second hand goods in a shop, is not ubiquitous: the cost of operating a physical location alongside the need to handle large inventory, sometimes means that resellers opt for temporary venues likeFlea market,garage sales or temporary pop-up type sales.
Some goods have always had a vibrant second hand market that allow for the creation of permanent venues, such asantiques andbooks. With the advent of social movements focused on reuses in the 21st century, such as thesustainable fashion movement, other goods have become more economical for specialized stores focused on their resale.
Consignment is a process whereby a person gives permission to another party to take care of their property while retaining full ownership of the property until the item is sold to the final buyer.[1] It is generally done duringauctions,shipping, goods transfer, or putting something up for sale in aconsignment store.[2] The owner of the goods pays the third-party a portion of the sale for facilitating the sale. Consignors maintain the rights to their property until the item is sold or abandoned. Many consignment shops and online consignment platforms have a set time limit (usually 60–90 days) at which an item's availability for sale expires. Within the time ofcontract, reductions of the price are common to promote the sale of the item, but vary by the type of item sold (depending largely on the price point, or whether or not the item can be considered a luxury item).
Consignment stock isstock legally owned by one party but held by another, meaning that the risk and rewards regarding the said stock remain with the first party while the second party is responsible for distribution or retail operations.[3][4]
The verbconsign means "to send", and therefore the nounconsignment means "sending goods to another person". In the case ofretail consignment orsales consignment (often just referred to as a "consignment"), goods are sent to an agent for the purpose of sale. Legal ownership of these goods remains with the sender. The agent sells the goods on behalf of the sender according to instructions. The sender of goods is known as theconsignor, and the agent entrusted with the custody and care of the goods is known as theconsignee.
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Apawnbroker is an individual who offerssecured loans to people by taking items ofpersonal property ascollateral. A pawnbrokering entity is called a pawnshop or pawnbrokerage. While many items can be pawned, pawnshops typically accept jewelry, musical instruments, coins, gold, silver and firearms. Home-audio equipment, computers, video-game systems, televisions, cameras, and power tools became pawnable as the world entered theInformation Age. The itemspawned to the broker or shop are themselves calledpledges,pawns, or simplythe collateral.
If an item is pawned for a loan (colloquially "hocked" or "popped"[6] or "up the spout"[7]),
within a certain contractual period of time the pawner may redeem it for the amount of the loan plus some agreed-upon amount for interest. In the United States the amount of time and the rate of interest are governed by law and by state commerce-department policies. Pawnbrokers have the same license as a bank, which is highly regulated. If the loan is not paid (or extended, if applicable) within the time period, the pawnbroker will offer the pawned item for sale to other customers. Unlike other lenders, the pawnbroker does not report the defaulted loan on the customer's credit-report, since the pawnbroker has physical possession of the item and may recoup the loan value through outright sale of the item. Pawnbrokers may also sell items that have been sold outright to them by customers. Some pawnshops are willing to trade items in their shop for items brought to them by customers.
Acharity shop is aretail establishment run by acharitable organization to raise money. Charity shops are a type ofsocial enterprise. They sell mainlyused goods such as clothing, books, music albums, shoes, toys, and furniture donated by the public, and are often staffed by volunteers. Because the items for sale were obtained for free, and business costs are low, the items can be sold at competitive prices. After costs are paid, all remaining income from the sales is used in accord with the organization's stated charitable purpose. Costs include purchase and/ordepreciation of fixtures (clothing racks, bookshelves, counters, etc.), operating costs (maintenance, municipal service fees, electricity, heat, telephone, limited advertising) and the buildinglease ormortgage.
Shopping can be done in a physical shop, or online.[8][9][10] Some charity shops are online only.[11][12]
Anantique shop or antiques shop is a retail store specializing in the selling ofantiques. Antiques shops generally have a physical presence in a shop where the wares are stored and displayed, but some antique shops are online, with no physical retail location.
Some antiques shops are located within an antique mall or "antiques market", where each seller can open a booth or stall and display their items for sale.[13] These mini-malls may be a form ofconsignment shop.
Usually stores' stock is sourced fromauctions,estate sales,flea markets,garage sales, etc. Many items may pass through multiple antiques dealers along the product chain before arriving in a retail antiques shop.[14] By their very nature, these shops sell unique items and are typically willing to buy items, even from individuals. The quality of these items may vary from very low to extremely high and expensive, depending on the nature and location of the shop.
Frequently, many antique shops will be clustered together in nearby locations; in the same town such as in many places inNew England, or on the same street such asPortobello Road orCamden inLondon, or in an antique mall.
Antiques shops may specialize in some particular segment of the market such as antique furniture orjewelry, but many shops stock a wide variety of inventory.
Used bookstores (usually called "second-hand bookshops" in Great Britain[15]) buy and sellused books andout-of-print books. A range of titles is available in used bookstores, including in print and out-of-print books. Book collectors tend to frequent used book stores. Large online bookstores offer used books for sale, too. Individuals wishing to sell their used books using online bookstores agree to terms outlined by the bookstore(s): for example, paying the online bookstore(s) a predetermined commission once the books have sold.
Used bookstores can range in size offering from several hundred to several hundred thousands of titles. They may bebrick-and-mortar stores,internet-only stores, or a combination of both. Abook town is a locale where numerous bookstores are located and serve as the town's main attraction totourists.
The third-largest bookstore chain in the United States,Half Price Books, primarily sells and buys used books along with new titles.[16]People will sell used goods right in front of their home in what is called a "garage sale". The products would be set up in front of the garage.
In the UK, people buy and sell at acar boot sale. Sellers will drive their vehicles to a large field, laden with products both used and new, and sell out of their boot.
Aflea market is a type of street market that provides space for vendors to sell previously owned goods.
Pawnbrokers sent goods up a lift called 'the spout'.
