French group Auchan tests sale of second-hand clothes

The brand has created a second-hand clothing area at five of its sites: in Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône, ‎Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur), Bordeaux (Nouvelle-Aquitaine), Melun (‎Seine-et-Marne, Île-de-France), Roncq (Nord, Hauts-de-France) and Hirson (Aisne, Hauts-de-France).

Auchan has said the aim is to increase its textile offering, and entice new shoppers through its doors, as the second-hand clothes market continues to grow in popularity.

At the Roncq store, all the second-hand clothes have been arranged by type, and are priced at the same amount per item.

For example:

T-shirts: €3 each; Trousers: €8; Jumpers: €8; Coats: €15.

Specialist trade magazine LSA said that customers were also invited to bring in second-hand clothes to the participating shops in return for a store voucher - in an offer that has been rolled out in partnership with French online second-hand clothing retailer Patatam.

The second-hand scheme will be rolled out for a test period of three months, after which time Auchan may decide to roll it out across the rest of its stores.

In France, the total second-hand market (not only clothes) is estimated to be worth €6 billion.