A 2024 survey found that 71 per cent of Alberta respondents had used second-hand markets, with 87 per cent of that group identifying savings as a reason. Thrift operators in Lethbridge also reported rising demand as households looked for lower-cost clothing, household goods and holiday gifts.
The poll captured a cost-conscious shift
The Angus Reid survey included 1,511 Canadians. Among Alberta respondents who had used second-hand markets, saving money was the dominant stated motivation.
Another 59 per cent of Albertans said they were considering a second-hand gift for the holiday season. Willingness to give used items suggested that resale was moving beyond private bargain hunting and losing some of its social stigma.
Local organizations saw more shoppers
The Salvation Army in Lethbridge said use of its services increased 50 per cent from 2022 to 2023 and was tracking roughly 10 per cent higher again in 2024. Those service figures were not the same measure as retail sales, but they showed continuing financial pressure.
Donation-based charities depend on a reliable flow of usable goods as demand rises. A busy shop does not necessarily mean its supply includes the sizes, seasonal clothing or household essentials customers need.
Independent resale businesses also expanded
A Lethbridge second-hand clothing owner said December sales improved as more customers became comfortable buying used gifts. He was considering a used sporting-goods store aimed partly at families whose children quickly outgrow expensive equipment.
Resale businesses that purchase stock operate differently from charities receiving donations. Shoppers should understand pricing, return policies and whether a store’s social mission is charitable, commercial or a combination.
Affordability was not the only motivation
Keeping clothing and durable goods in use can reduce the demand for new production and delay disposal. That benefit depends on consumers buying items they will actually use rather than treating low prices as permission to overconsume.
Second-hand activity also includes online local marketplaces. They can offer variety and direct neighbourhood exchange, but purchasers need safeguards against counterfeit goods, unsafe products, payment fraud and meetings in isolated places.
Survey percentages need context
The national sample was much larger than the Alberta subsample, so province-level results carry greater uncertainty than a survey of 1,511 Albertans would. Wording, online-panel methods and the date of fieldwork can also influence responses.
Saying that someone has “used” a second-hand market does not show how often they shop, how much they spend or whether the behaviour increased that year. Store observations provide supporting context but not a province-wide census.
Used does not automatically mean a bargain
Shoppers can compare the resale price with current retail promotions and inspect condition, completeness and repair cost. Safety-critical children’s products, helmets, recalled appliances and some upholstered goods require particular caution.
For gifts, cleaning the item, checking that it works and explaining honestly that it is pre-owned can preserve both value and trust. A thoughtful used book, tool or piece of sports equipment may be more useful than a cheaper new substitute.
Growing demand can affect access
As thrifting becomes fashionable, prices for scarce or branded items can rise. Resellers who search charity shops for online inventory may also compete with households relying on the lowest-cost local options.
Stores can balance revenue and access through transparent pricing, discount programmes, essential-item vouchers and careful distribution of donations.
The trend reflected necessity and normalization
Rising living costs clearly pushed many Albertans toward resale, while environmental awareness and changing attitudes made the choice more socially acceptable. Neither explanation excludes the other.
The strongest conclusion is not that every Albertan became a committed thrifter. It is that a clear majority of surveyed residents had participated, savings mattered greatly, and local operators saw demand consistent with financial strain. Second-hand shopping had become a mainstream household strategy, deserving the same attention to value, safety and consumer protection as new retail.
