Category
Business
Keepsake Countdowns
Trend cluster
Category
Consumer
Marketplace
Brands are launching first-party storefronts to connect consumers to others.
5.7
Trend score
What's Happening
What is the Consumer Marketplace trend?
Consumer Marketplace: Brands across multiple industries are launching consumer-to-business-to-consumer (C2B2C) storefronts. C2B2C offers consumers discounts on products and enables consumers to sell unwanted products while the business handles transactions and verifies the quality of listed items.
Insight
The consumer insight behind the Consumer Marketplace trend
When consumers no longer require products, whether it be clothing, technology, or furniture, they often turn to third-party marketplaces for all-purpose listings. However, these marketplaces pose various risks, causing some users to be wary of misleading products and scam attempts. Some consumers desire streamlined ways to liquidate older goods safely and securely, while others desire quality goods at discounted prices. Brands are responding by launching first-party C2B2C marketplaces.
Trend themes
Themes within the Consumer Marketplace trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
First-party C2B2C marketplaces
Brands are launching first-party C2B2C marketplaces to offer consumers a safer and more secure way to liquidate older goods and purchase quality goods at discounted prices.
02
Circular economy initiatives
Circular economy initiatives are becoming popular among different industries, encouraging the recycling and reselling of used products to reduce wastage and make a contribution to a more sustainable future.
03
Resale marketplaces
Resale marketplaces, particularly in the athleisure industry, are making it easy for customers to sell their used clothing and products, while also offering a more sustainable model for the industry.
Industry implications
What the Consumer Marketplace trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Retail
Retail companies can benefit from launching first-party C2B2C marketplaces that offer consumers a secure and safe way to liquidate their older goods while purchasing quality products at discounted prices.
For
Furniture
Furniture businesses can benefit from circular economy initiatives, specifically offering incentives for customers to return used furniture for recycle or resale purposes.
For
Athleisure
Athletic apparel and athleisure companies can benefit from developing their own resale marketplaces, where customers can help increase product lifecycles and meet increasing sustainability demands.
Workshop question
How might your brand benefit from connecting its consumers via an online marketplace or forum?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Consumer Marketplace
Trend score 5.7 out of 10, from popularity 70%, activity 61%, freshness 40%.
Popularity70%
Activity61%
Freshness40%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Europe
Asia-Pacific
South America
Evidence
Examples of the Consumer Marketplace trend
6 featured examples from Jun 13, 2022 to May 8, 2025CategoryEco
Customer-Driven Marketplaces
COS Clothing Partnered with Recurate on a C2B2C Marketplace
Fashion retailers can seize the opportunity by creating their own C2B2C marketplaces, such as COS Resell, to cater to environmentally-conscious customers and expand revenue stream…
CategoryEco
Circular Furniture Initiatives
IKEA Debuted its 'Buy Back & Resell' Program in the United States
Furniture companies could leverage IKEA's initiative to offer similar circular models by allowing their customers to recycle used furniture, incentivizing sustainable practices wh…
CategoryEco
Athleisure Resale Marketplaces
Vitality's New Platform Fosters the Purchase & Sale Of Used Apparel
Athletic apparel companies can create resale marketplaces to promote sustainability and engage customers.
CategoryTech
Used Component Marketplaces
Framework Allows Customers to Sell Used Products on its Website
The growth of used component marketplaces like Framework presents disruptive innovation opportunities for e-commerce platforms to facilitate the buying and selling of used product…
CategoryEco
Branded Customer Resale Marketplaces
Relove Enables Businesses to Launch C2B2C Storefronts
Retailers can leverage the trend of branded customer resale marketplaces like Relove to reduce environmental impact, increase customer loyalty, and generate additional revenue.
CategorySocial Good
Canadian Entrepreneur-Focused Marketplaces
Futurpreneur Marketplace Emerges as a Timely Initiative
The intersection of technology and commerce manifests in digital marketplaces, which are revolutionizing accessibility and reach for small enterprises.
