The 2024 Luxury Resale Report: The RealReal Reveals Top Brands and Trends Shaping the Market

Rhea-AI Summary

The RealReal, the world's largest online marketplace for authenticated, resale luxury goods, has released its seventh annual 2024 Luxury Resale Report. The report analyzes data from 37 million members, revealing key trends in luxury resale. Investment-worthy pieces like high-value fine jewelry and timeless handbags dominated, alongside trends influenced by TikTok and nostalgic TV shows.

Key findings include:

• Top 10 most searched brands focus on universality
• Fine jewelry saw the biggest growth, with sales up 22% YoY for pieces $5,000+
• Handbags priced $1,000-3,000 experienced a 13% YoY buyer growth
• Vintage brands went mainstream, with searches for Issey Miyake up 100% YoY
• Street style shifted towards business attire, with suiting sales up 25%
• 'New Americana' trend emerging, combining boho and utilitarian styles

The RealReal introduced a new 'As Is' condition category to meet customer demand for value-driven shopping.

Positive

• Fine jewelry sales increased 22% YoY for pieces $5,000+ by luxury brands
• Handbags priced $1,000-3,000 saw a 13% YoY growth in buyers
• Vintage brand sales surged, with Issey Miyake searches up 100% YoY and Vivienne Westwood sales up 35% YoY
• Suiting sales increased by 25% YoY, indicating a shift towards business attire
• Introduction of 'As Is' condition category to meet customer demand for value-driven shopping

Negative

• Sales for classic streetwear brands and pieces (Supreme, Off-White, Nike Jordans) decreased by 25-35% YoY

Insights

Market Research Analyst

The RealReal's 2024 Luxury Resale Report reveals significant shifts in consumer behavior and market trends. Key findings include a 22% YoY growth in fine jewelry sales over $5,000, indicating a trend towards high-value, investment-worthy pieces. This suggests consumers are prioritizing long-term value in uncertain economic times.

The report also highlights a 13% YoY increase in buyer growth for handbags priced between $1,000 and $3,000. This trend towards more attainable luxury items could indicate a broadening of the luxury market, potentially increasing overall market size and competition among brands.

The surge in vintage and formerly niche brands going mainstream presents both opportunities and challenges for established luxury brands. They may need to adapt their strategies to maintain market share and appeal to evolving consumer preferences.

Financial Analyst

The report's findings have significant implications for luxury brands and retailers. The shift towards investment pieces and attainable luxury suggests a potential for increased sales volume in mid-range luxury items, which could boost revenues for companies operating in this space.

The rise of vintage and niche brands going mainstream could pressure established luxury houses to innovate and possibly lead to increased M&A activity as larger companies seek to acquire trending smaller brands. The 25% increase in suiting sales, contrasted with the 25-35% decrease in streetwear brands, indicates a market shift that could impact the financial performance of companies heavily invested in streetwear.

Investors should closely monitor how luxury companies adapt their strategies to these evolving consumer preferences, as it could significantly impact their financial performance and stock valuations.

Tech Expert

The report underscores the growing influence of technology on luxury fashion trends. TikTok's role in shaping consumer preferences highlights the importance of social media platforms in driving demand. This trend suggests that luxury brands need to invest heavily in their digital presence and social media strategies to remain competitive.

The introduction of the 'As Is' category on The RealReal's platform is a tech-driven solution to sustainability concerns. This move could potentially increase the platform's user base and transaction volume, as it caters to value-conscious consumers. It also demonstrates how e-commerce platforms can leverage technology to address environmental concerns while meeting consumer demands.

The data-driven approach to identifying trends, as evidenced by the report's use of search and sales data, underscores the importance of advanced analytics in the luxury resale market. Companies that can effectively harness and interpret such data may gain a significant competitive advantage.

 Consumers Take the Lead, Redefining Trends and Investing in Lasting Value

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The RealReal – the world’s largest online marketplace for authenticated, resale luxury goods — today released its seventh annual 2024 Luxury Resale Report. This comprehensive report uses 13 years of data to examine the current state of luxury resale, delves into the shopping and consignment behaviors of The RealReal’s more than 37 million members, and spotlights key trends shaping demand and resale value for luxury’s most sought-after brands and items.

Investment-worthy pieces such as high-value fine jewelry and timeless handbags dominated, alongside trends ignited by TikTok and the revival of nostalgic TV shows in the cultural spotlight.

“Fashion is undergoing a seismic shift. Trends less frequently flow from the top (runways), and are now emerging from the ground up through things like TikTok, television shows, and everyday street style,” says The RealReal’s President & Chief Operating Officer, Rati Sahi Levesque. “This unprecedented collision of fashion and culture is empowering consumers to shape trends themselves, driving demand for unique, high-value items that reflect their personal style. They’re looking to invest in quality more, especially during a time of economic insecurity…It’s no longer about what’s new being what’s next—it’s about what’s going to last. More than ever, shoppers are curating their wardrobes with a focus on distinctiveness and enduring value.”

Key themes explored in this year’s report include:

Top 10 Most Searched Brands Have Something in Common - Universality

• Bags men want to carry (men’s bag searches +900% YoY), styles that appeal to Gen Z & Boomers alike, and more, are paying off big for the top 10.
• Prada is Gen Z’s most searched brand and snags the #3 spot on the list.
• Chanel & Gucci handbags are the #1 & #2 most searched items; brands snag spots 2 & 4 on the list.
  

Buyers Went Big (and Maximalist) with Fine Jewelry

• Fine jewelry saw the biggest growth of any category; amidst economic uncertainty, consumers gravitated toward these pieces, with guaranteed ROIs and staying power.
• Sales +22% YoY for pieces $5,000+ by Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany & Co., & Cartier.

And Sought Out (More) Attainable Handbags

• Handbags priced $1,000-3,000 saw the biggest spike in buyer growth, +13% YoY.
• Buyers focused on good investments; average resale value for The Row Margaux +44% YoY, Loewe Puzzle average selling price is at an all-time high (+40% since 2020)

Vintage Went Mainstream

• Formerly niche brands like Issey Miyake (searches +100% YoY) and Vivienne Westwood (sales +35% YoY), once reserved for the in-the-know crowd, have surged into the mainstream.
• And a new guard, for those looking to be early adopters, emerged; collective sales of Claude Montana, Courrèges & Romeo Gigli +59% YoY.
• Throwback TV drove strong demand for Gen Z, making muses out of Carrie Bradshaw and Carmela Soprano.
  

Street Went C-Suite

• YoY Sales were down 25-35% for classic streetwear brands and pieces — Supreme, Off-White, Nike Jordans — yet jumped by 25% for suiting.
• YoY Vintage sales from brands known for their business-esque attire soared: Donna Karan +216%, Gianfranco Ferré +270%, St. John +163%.

We’re Predicting 2025’s ‘Mob Wife’...

• Combining boho and utilitarian styles — YoY searches for vintage Diesel +917%, Levi’s +69%, Chloe culottes +113%, Dôen dresses +50%, fringe leather +68% — ‘New Americana’ is likely to dominate culture.
  

Meeting Customers Where They Are… We Debuted a New Condition Category

• 73% of TRR shoppers say ‘value’ is the #1 reason they shop the site.
• ‘As Is,’ our newest, most accessible, and well-loved condition category, keeps more luxury items out of landfills and gives shoppers something to make totally their own.

To view The RealReal’s full 2024 Luxury Resale Report, visit TheRealReal.com.

To download imagery from the report, courtesy of The RealReal, click here.

About The RealReal Inc.
The RealReal is the world’s largest online marketplace for authenticated, resale luxury goods, with more than 37 million members. With a rigorous authentication process overseen by experts, The RealReal provides a safe and reliable platform for consumers to buy and sell their luxury items. We have hundreds of in-house gemologists, horologists and brand authenticators who inspect thousands of items each day. As a sustainable company, we give new life to pieces by thousands of brands across numerous categories—including women’s and men’s fashion, fine jewelry and watches, art and home—in support of the circular economy. We make selling effortless with free virtual appointments, in-home pickup, drop-off and direct shipping. We do all of the work for consignors, including authenticating, using AI and machine learning to determine optimal pricing, photographing and listing their items, as well as handling shipping and customer service.

Press Contact:
Mallory Johnston
Head of PR
mallory.johnston@therealreal.com

FAQ

What were the top trends in The RealReal's 2024 Luxury Resale Report for REAL stock?

The top trends included investment-worthy pieces like high-value fine jewelry and timeless handbags, vintage brands going mainstream, a shift from streetwear to business attire, and the emergence of a 'New Americana' style combining boho and utilitarian elements.

How did fine jewelry sales perform in The RealReal's 2024 report for REAL stock?

Fine jewelry saw the biggest growth of any category, with sales increasing 22% YoY for pieces priced $5,000 and above from brands like Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany & Co., and Cartier.

What new condition category did The RealReal (REAL) introduce in 2024?

The RealReal introduced the 'As Is' condition category to meet customer demand for value-driven shopping and to keep more luxury items out of landfills.

How did handbag sales perform in The RealReal's 2024 report for REAL stock?

Handbags priced between $1,000-3,000 saw the biggest spike in buyer growth, increasing 13% YoY. The average resale value for The Row Margaux increased 44% YoY, and the Loewe Puzzle's average selling price reached an all-time high, up 40% since 2020.