Secondhand Sellers Are Going Premium
The RealReal and ThredUp have gone upscale to improve profitability—a challenge in tougher economic times
2 min
In theory, a weakening economic environment seems good for secondhand platforms: People are more likely to sell valuable items from their closets while bargain hunters emerge. In practice, it is a bit more complicated.
The RealReal, an online marketplace for luxury resale, said on Tuesday that gross merchandise value—the total value of goods sold through its platform—fell 7% in its second quarter, worse than the 5.7% decline that Wall Street analysts were penciling in. ThredUp, which sells more generic brands, fared better and reported revenue growth of 8%, exceeding expectations. Both companies reported narrower net losses than analyst expectations, sending The RealReal up 6% in after-hours trading and ThredUp by 2.8%.
Despite better-than-expected profits, the selling environment isn’t exactly hospitable for either platform.
ThredUp, which tries to keep its pricing 60% to 70% lower than what consumers could buy at regular retail, is facing a very promotional environment in which brands are offering steep discounts on new products. On the company’s earnings call on Tuesday, ThredUp said the market for selling clothes remains competitive, though it is improving.
Meanwhile, demand for luxury goods has generally been lukewarm in the U.S. Even the prices of highly coveted secondhand watches such as Rolexes have fizzled recently. ThredUp is projecting a slowdown in top-line growth this year compared with 2022, while The RealReal is expecting a slight decline in sales volume.
Both platforms are trying to attract wealthier, more resilient customers by upgrading their product mixes, even if it reduces their customer base in the near term. ThredUp said the budget shopper continues to look more challenged and said it is focused on attracting the “incrementally more premium buyer.”
The RealReal, meanwhile, has tweaked its commission structure for consignors by allowing them to retain more of the revenue earned from the sale of the most expensive, in-demand items while reducing incentives on products selling for less than $100. While that has reduced the company’s sales volume, it helped improve gross margins to 65.9% last quarter, up about 9 percentage points from a year earlier.
The tricky part for both platforms is that they haven’t been around long enough to know how their target buyers and sellers behave during downturns. Given that both businesses are, to some extent, supply constrained, further weakness could be a good thing if it encourages more people to raid their wardrobes. And, judging by the strong record at off-price retail during downturns, demand for value products should hold up.
So far, though, a weakening economic environment hasn’t been a bonanza for secondhand goods.
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Highlighting a significant recovery and robust growth across all key performance metrics.
3 min
Bank of Sharjah has released its results for the period ending 30 June 2024, showcasing robust performance and strong momentum since the beginning of the year. The Bank reported a net profit of AED 171 million, a significant turnaround from the AED 144 million loss in the same period last year.
This remarkable improvement is attributed to a substantial increase in net interest income, stringent credit underwriting, and reduced operating costs, marking a 233% increase over the previous year when excluding the one-time impairment charge from de-linking its Lebanese subsidiary.
The Bank’s exceptional financial results highlight the effectiveness of its strategic focus on sustainable growth, with notable improvements across all major performance metrics. Funded and unfunded income both saw increases, with net interest income rising by 108% and operating income growing by 34%.
Additionally, the cost-to-income ratio improved significantly to 40.1% due to cost discipline measures. The balance sheet remains strong with a loans-to-deposits ratio of 86.63%, indicating comfortable liquidity. The Bank also maintains strong capitalization, with a regulatory capital adequacy ratio exceeding 15% and Tier 1 and CET1 capital ratios around 14%. These positive results underscore the Bank’s underlying strength, operational efficiency, prudent risk management, and ongoing enhancement of shareholder value.
Commenting on the Bank’s results, Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud Al Qasimi, Chairman of Bank of Sharjah, stated: “We are pleased with our outstanding performance in the first half of 2024, which reflects our commitment to adding value to our customers, supporting our communities, and rewarding our shareholders. Despite the challenging geopolitical situation in the region, the UAE economy has remained resilient and continues to register healthy growth following various economic diversification initiatives that provide consistent impetus for trade, investment, and wealth creation. Bank of Sharjah has entered a new chapter with a new leadership team, focused on building new business streams, expanding our reach across the UAE and the region, and delivering exceptional service to our customers.”
He added: “Our performance in the first half of the year demonstrates the effectiveness of our new strategy, and we look forward to delivering continued growth in the years to come.”
The CEO, Mr. Mohamed Khadiri, commented “2024 has begun exceptionally well for Bank of Sharjah, with the bank achieving a record year-on-year profit. I am delighted with our stellar performance as we continue to strengthen the bank’s fundamentals. Our outstanding results reaffirm that our new business strategy is on track to deliver sustainable revenue growth, driven by business expansion, operational efficiency, prudent risk management, and talent development. This achievement is also a testament to the Bank’s success in providing high-quality financial services that meet the aspirations and growing needs of our customers.”
He further added: “Bank of Sharjah is a strong and respected brand within the local community. We are leveraging our core strengths to build a platform that will operate at its full potential across the UAE and the region. The Bank remains focused on executing our strategy and is well-positioned to maintain strong performance throughout 2024 and beyond.”
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