How to Think About Resale Market Size
A clear-eyed look at resale market size in the resale economy.
Resale market size is one of the most cited and most misused figures in the industry. Estimates vary widely because definitions differ: some count only fashion, others include all categories, and methodologies rarely align.
The useful discipline is to ask what any given figure actually measures. GMV summed over platforms, retail value of goods, or projected future spend are very different numbers often quoted interchangeably.
For the business reader, the honest approach is to treat headline market-size claims skeptically and focus on what a specific operator actually moves, verified rather than projected.