Across the fashion categories at eBay Australia, kids’ clothing saw the highest jump in listings post-Christmas in 2023.
Boys’s clothing in particular saw a 162 per cent lift in listing post-Christmas, followed by girlswear at 69 per cent.
Other fashion categories also recorded a lift in listings, including tops (29 per cent), pants (up 22 per cent), and dresses (up 20 per cent).
eBay Australia’s head of marketing campaigns and communications Zannie Abbott said choosing the perfect gift can be tricky, but getting the sizing right for growing children can be more so difficult.
“Plus, kids' interests change quickly — one day, they're obsessed with blue shirts and the next day it’s green shirts, and they want their clothes to reflect that,” Abbott said.
Abbott added that the lift in overall fashion listings post-Christmas may not just be for rehoming unwanted gifts. Some customers are also aiming to declutter their wardrobes and free up space in their closets for the summer season.
“It’s a practical and sustainable way to turn items that don’t fit or suit into cash while meeting the high demand for seasonal styles,” she said. “This trend reflects a growing commitment to conscious consumption, as Australians opt to buy and sell pre-loved pieces rather than let them go to waste.
“By extending the life of fashion items, they’re making more thoughtful choices about how they engage with their wardrobes while also easing the financial strain of the holiday season.”
eBay research also shows that unwanted gifts are on the rise. Last year, the average Australian received around two unwanted gifts, and eBay’s research reveals over half (52 per cent) of Australians have previously sold or plan to sell their unwanted Christmas gifts this year to make some extra cash.
Meanwhile, Gen Z (58 per cent) and millennials (57 per cent) lead the way in reselling on eBay.
Alongside fashion, tech products were also the most popular unwanted gift category in Australia for 2023, with four pre-loved fashion items listed every minute and one tech item listed every two minutes.
Listing for tablet devices lifted by 50 per cent in 2023 post-Christmas, smartwatches were up 45 per cent and game controllers were up 41 per cent. Headphones lifted by 31 per cent, and video game consoles were up 23 per cent.