The second-hand market is poised to become one of the defining retail revolutions of this decade. In Europe alone, the second-hand fashion market is projected to reach €26 billion by 2030, growing at an annual rate of 8.5%.
This course offers a strategic and operational deep dive into this fast-growing industry. Participants will explore innovative business models, supply chain dynamics, digital platforms, sustainability principles, branding, and customer engagement, gaining actionable insights to navigate and lead in this rapidly evolving sector.
Focus Structure Outcomes Requirements Faculty
Course focus
Designed for experienced professionals, managers, entrepreneurs, but also upcoming fashion brands, the course provides the tools needed to design, manage and scale a second-hand fashion business.
The aim is to equip participants with practical skills and strategic understanding to operate successfully in this expanding market, integrating innovation and sustainability, and anchor circular business models to core business objectives.
Course structure
1) The growth and impact of the Second-Hand Fashion Market
- Market overview: Size, trends, and projections for Italy and international markets.
- Consumer profiles: Key drivers, motivations, and challenges shaping resale adoption.
- Retail landscape: Major players, market volume, and growth dynamics.
2) Business Models and value chains
- B2C models: Buy-resell and consignment.
- C2C models: Peer-to-peer platforms and digital marketplaces.
- Branded resale: How mass-market and mid-luxury brands integrate resale as a growth strategy.
- Luxury resale: Resale as a complementary product strategy.
3) Legal frameworks for circular fashion
- EU regulations: The role of extended producer responsibility (EPR) in shaping circular fashion.
- Italian compliance: Impact on national regulations
- Ethics and greenwashing: Legal boundaries and moral considerations
4) Supply chain and logistics: From sourcing to customer experience
- Sourcing strategies: Stakeholder collaboration and product assortment optimization.
- Reverse logistics: Market differentiation and operational challenges.
- Luxury authentication: Technologies for traceability, authentication, and data-driven insights.
- Store implementation: Internal workflows and enhancing customer experience.
5) Strategic Implementation: Keys to success
- Profitability redefined: Metrics and for revenue in second-hand fashion.
- Customer-centric experience: Designing seamless, trust-building interactions.
- Sustainability communication: Aligning internal and external messaging with values.
- Storytelling and benchmarks: Case studies of best practices.
6) The future of second-hand fashion
- Emerging markets: Niche segments and evolving consumer demographics.
- Circular synergies: Collaborations and partnerships driving systemic change.
- Consumer evolution: Advocacy, behavior shifts, and the role of education in circular fashion.
Outcomes / Skills acquired
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Recognize the depth of the second-hand fashion market and its range of opportunities
- Evaluate high-impact business models tailored to resale fashion.
- Anticipate operational and supply chain challenges unique to pre-owned fashion.
- Develop a cohesive branding and marketing strategy for circular fashion.
- Design and prototype a scalable second-hand business model aligned with your existing operations.
Requirements
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- High-school diploma or equivalent (or relevant professional experience)
- Good command of English
- Background or interest in fashion, retail or circular economy is an advantage
Faculty Bio
Marjorie Biawa is a French entrepreneur and expert in circular fashion and the resale economy, with over 10 years of experience as a fashion buyer. She has designed and overseen 15+ second-hand projects for retailers and entrepreneurs across Europe. Besides, she delivers keynotes on the evolution of the resale economy, and founded a training organization dedicated to second-hand jobs and skills.