E-commerce giant Amazon has introduced a brick-and-mortar Second Chance Store at the Brunswick Centre in Central London, UK, offering customers the opportunity to purchase returned, refurbished, and open-box items in person.
This move marks a significant shift from the retailer's typical online presence, allowing shoppers to make more conscientious choices and enjoy savings of up to 50% compared to the recommended retail prices.
The store will be open until 12 December 2023, offering a unique opportunity for consumers to shop responsibly and support a charitable cause during the festive season.
What to expect
The new retail space features a diverse selection of returned products, including kitchen and household appliances, books, games, toys, and electricals.
Amazon has donated more than 4,000 products to the store, comprising used, open-box, and refurbished items, such as its Echo, Kindle, and Ring Doorbell devices.
Additionally, customers can explore the Repairs Zone at the centre, with free repair workshops conducted by experts from GXO ServiceTech, one of Amazon’s prominent repair partners.
Operated in collaboration with children’s charity Barnardo’s, all proceeds from the Second Chance Store contribute to its work in supporting children and young people.
Second-hand shopping surge in the UK
The Second Chance Store aligns with the growing trend of second-hand shopping in the UK, as customer demand propels Amazon's second-hand business into a billion-pound industry across the UK and Europe.
In 2022, Amazon claimed it provided a second chance to more than four million products in the UK, resulting in over £30m in savings for customers.
For the first nine months of 2023, Amazon said its sales of second-hand goods in the UK saw an increase of more than 15% compared to the same period in 2022.
Amazon's commitment to a circular economy
“Amazon is committed to giving more products a second chance - both through helping customers shop preloved, and through programmes to recycle, trade-in and repair products, contributing to a more circular economy,” said John Boumphrey, UK country manager, Amazon.
Moreover, Amazon expanded its partnership with the Waste and Resources Action Programme and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in 2022 to better support a global circular economy for its products.
The company is actively involved in initiatives such as the Digital Watermarks Initiative HolyGrail 2.0 to enhance plastic packaging recycling.
