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Footwear retailer Dr Martens has revealed it is considering expanding its ReWair resale platform outside the US as it looks to capitalize on the boom in the second-hand economy.
The U.K.-based group, which has been a mainstay in retro style for decades with its yellow-stitched boots, launched ReWair in the U.S. in March 2024 as part of its more sustainable goals.
The brand’s resale platform has been a huge success, with more than 10,000 pairs of used shoes sold in the United States since its launch, and the group is now considering expanding the platform to other countries around the world.
CEO Ije Nwokorie told press association The group is working on how to “build the product.”
He said no decision had been made on the next country or timing, but said it would be natural to consider expansion “if there is success in one place”.
Against this backdrop, demand for second-hand products has surged in the UK and globally.
Delivery giant Evri, which has a partnership with popular website Vinted, recently revealed that a surge in second-hand shopping and online marketplaces helped it deliver nearly 50 million more parcels in the first half of this year.
According to the group, the ReWair initiative has also brought new customers to the Dr Martens brand.
The company said that as of the end of March, 43% of U.S. resale customers were new to the brand.
ReWair repairs and restores second-hand shoes and bags, which the company then authenticates and sells through a dedicated online store.
If possible, returned products are also refurbished for resale, or if they cannot be restored, are directly recycled or donated.
In the UK, Dr Martens does not directly operate brand resale products, but has opened a ReWair store in the UK. Depop Platform, which is operated in partnership with Boot Repair Company.
Since launch in April 2022, more than 13,000 Dr Martens refurbished products have been sold.
The company also offers an authorized repair service in the UK, which Mr Nwokorie said was “doing extremely well” in the UK, with nearly 5,800 customers using it to extend the life of their footwear.
“It really plays to our strengths,” he told PA. “All of these are sources of revenue for us.”
As well as capitalizing on demand for second-hand products, the company’s resale initiatives are part of its goal to have “sustainable end-of-life” options for all products by 2040.
This means returned items that cannot be repaired for resale will be recycled or donated.
In March 2024, Dr Martens launched three products made from Genix Nappa, a new material made from recycled leather, to help ensure that all its products are made from sustainable materials by 2040.