Look good, feel good. What you wear can be the best way to show your personality. In this installment of Industry Trends, we take a deep dive into fashion to see how people are expressing themselves.
Shoppers are taking advantage of back-to-school sales to overhaul their wardrobe for a fashion reset. eMarketer predicts apparel and accessory sales in the U.S. to jump nearly 30% in 2021, making fashion retail the fastest growing category in the country.
Here at eBay, we’re seeing the same growth in fashion. Our eBay Ads Re-open 2021 study shows that 77% of all online shoppers plan to make fashion purchases online. But there’ll still be shoppers who want to try something on before buying it. Our same study found:
- 52% of online shoppers will return to stores because “I want to see things in real life before purchasing”
- 47% of shoppers are excited to return to stores for fashion purchases
So what can sellers do to keep fashion shoppers on eBay in 2021? Focus on comfort and ease. Spending most of 2020 at home has made it hard to wear anything but leggings and sweats . Not surprisingly, skinny jeans are on the out as shoppers favor more forgiving boot cut and wide-leg pant options. Similarly, demand for more “throw it on and go” outfits have led to a 25% increase in average dress sale prices and a 26% increase in average jumpsuit sales prices.
And shoppers aren’t looking for just one article of clothing. We’ve seen a 199% jump in outfit and clothing sets sold in Q2 2021 compared to last year. Consumers are finishing their outfits with new kicks to match – sales are up 15% in men’s dress shoes and 4% for high heels.
Shoppers are looking to step out of their homes and be seen. Bolder colors like gold and silver are the new black and white this year. The increase in fashion search keywords like “resort” or “statement” reinforce our belief that shoppers want to be fashionable yet comfortable, especially as travel and in-person activity ticks up. Sellers should revisit their listings and add the best and most appropriate keywords to take advantage of this increase in search volume. Avoid another blue or gold dress debate by ensuring you use the best pictures of your item to show the style, fit and color.
Learn more about how the fashion shopping journey has changed this year in the infographic below:
So what does this all mean for sellers on eBay? Sellers have a small window to take advantage of the back-to-school shopping season, as schools have already started to reopen. Our online marketplace recreates the in-person shopping experience with a larger selection of fashion products and easily discoverable listings.
eBay sellers should also Invest in Promoted Listings Standard to increase returns on their fashion and retail listings. By also leveraging eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee program, sellers can build trust with their stores and make shoppers feel secure in their purchases. Review our suite of ad solutions today before the widow closes on the fashion shopping spree.