Canada Consignment & Resale Statistics 2026: What Changed Since 2024

 

Canada’s secondhand economy has moved from a steady, slow-growth niche into one of the more resilient corners of retail. Comparing the figures published in Aravenda’s original 2024 Canada resale report [1] against the data available in 2026 shows a market that has grown in dollar terms, consolidated in business count, and shifted with the broader Canadian economy’s turbulence. Below is an updated, citable snapshot of where things stand.

The Headline Numbers: 2024 vs. 2026

Metric	2024 report	2026 update
Used Goods Stores market size	$3.0 billion (2023)	$3.1 billion (2026 est.)
Number of used goods businesses	1,619 (2023)	2,195 (2026)
Consignment/used merchandise stores	~1,400 stores (2022 est.)	Broader “recommerce” framing now used; formal store counts less emphasized as online/hybrid resale grows
Canada real GDP growth	1.1% (2023)	1.7% (2025 full year); 1.1–1.8% forecast range for 2026 depending on source
Canada population	39,049,697 (April 2024)	~40.5–41.4 million (2026, sources vary by method)

Market size: Modest Growth in the Formal Store Sector, Faster Growth in Recommerce

 

The traditional “Used Goods Stores” industry, the physical consignment shops, thrift stores, and secondhand retailers Statista and IBISWorld track, grew from roughly $3.0 billion in 2023 to an estimated $3.1 billion in 2026, with the industry having grown at a compound annual growth rate of about 1.5% to 1.8% between 2020 and 2025. That’s a modest, low-single-digit pace, and notably the industry is projected to decline over the next five years according to IBISWorld’s 2026 [4], a meaningfully different trajectory than the optimistic growth story told in the 2024 report.

But that narrow “store” definition undersells what’s happening. A separate, broader recommerce lens puts Canada’s market at a much larger figure: the recommerce market in Canada was expected to grow by 10.7% annually to reach US$4.72 billion in 2025, after a 13.2% compound annual growth rate between 2020 and 2024, that market is forecast to expand from USD 4.26 billion in 2024 to approximately USD 6.66 billion by 2029, growing at roughly 9.0% annually. This wider definition captures peer-to-peer resale, platform-based selling, and business-led resale channels that a “consignment store count” simply can’t see.

The number of used-goods businesses operating in Canada also grew noticeably, from 1,619 in 2023 to 2,195 in 2026, a jump that reflects continued formalization of what was once a more informal, garage-sale-and-flea-market economy.

 

What’s Driving the Shift

 

Canada’s recommerce market is evolving from informal resale networks toward more structured models led by fashion platforms, electronics refurbishers, and national retailers, with trends shaped by Gen Z consumer behavior, government-led waste reduction goals, and increased brand interest in secondhand resale. Recommerce is becoming more formalized through brand-backed pilots, provincial policy mandates, and city-focused platforms, with apparel, electronics, and home goods remaining the most active categories.

This mirrors what’s happening globally, the global secondhand market has been described in ThredUp’s 14th annual Resale Report as entering a more competitive, structurally complex phase, now valued at $393 billion and growing faster than retail. Growth is increasing, not just from new entrants but from share shifts between resale and new retail, between platforms, and across a long tail of smaller sellers, with technology reducing friction and brands playing a bigger role.

Consumer motivation has also sharpened since 2024, largely due to economic pressure rather than sustainability messaging alone. Roughly 69% of Americans say they’re more likely to buy or sell secondhand when the economy feels uncertain, and 59% of consumers say tariffs are pushing them toward secondhand options, a figure that rises to 69% among Millennials. Affordability remains the top cited motivation for buying secondhand, cited by roughly 80% of consumers. While these figures come from U.S.-focused research, they closely track the economic backdrop Canada shares with its neighbor, including the tariff disruptions discussed below.

Canada’s Economy: A Bumpier Backdrop Than 2024

The 2024 report cited 1.1% real GDP growth for 2023. The 2026 picture is more mixed and, in places, weaker than initially forecast:

• Canada’s real GDP increased 1.7% in 2025, the slowest pace of annual growth since the decline in 2020, with lower exports, particularly to the United States, the main contributor to the slowdown.

• Canada’s economy contracted by 0.6% in the fourth quarter of 2025, underperforming the Bank of Canada’s projection.

• GDP growth stalled again in the first quarter of 2026, holding a 0.2% contraction, as a 2.9% jump in imports (notably gold and scrap metal) and a small drop in exports weighed on output despite a rise in household consumption.
• Canada’s federal budget office cites private-sector forecasters expecting 1.1% real GDP growth in 2026, rising to 1.9% in 2027 as the economy adjusts to the new trading environment.
• Trade tensions are a recurring theme behind the softer numbers. A broad-based U.S. tariff on Canadian goods was flagged as a key risk that could bring the Canadian economy closer to recession, with lack of visibility on U.S. trade policy likely to delay business investment. That uncertainty is directly relevant to resale: when household budgets tighten and imported new goods become pricier, secondhand and consignment channels typically see increased demand, a pattern the OfferUp and BCG consumer data above also point to.

Population and Demographics

• As of July 1, 2026, Canada’s population is projected at roughly 40.47 million.
• Statistics Canada’s own preliminary estimate put the population at 41,417,056 as of April 1, 2026.
• Notably, Canada’s population marked its first annual decline since Confederation, falling 0.1% in the first quarter of 2026, the third consecutive quarterly decline. The drop was driven by fewer permanent immigrants (83,149 in Q1 2026, down 20.2% year-over-year) and a decline of more than 117,000 non-permanent residents.

Category Spotlight: Sneakers and Luxury Resale

The 2024 report highlighted Canada’s sneaker resale segment as a growth area, projecting Canada would account for 26% of StockX’s international resale volume with a segment CAGR of 3.24% (2024–2028). The 2026 data suggest the category has accelerated well beyond that original estimate on a global basis:

• The global secondhand sneaker market is projected at $11.97 billion in 2026, scaling to $26.3 billion by 2035 at an 11.9% CAGR, with North America remaining the leading region for sneaker resale.
• The broader global sneaker resale market is projected to reach $30 billion by 2030, roughly a 15% compound annual growth rate, with StockX’s 2026 outlook pointing to re-commerce acceleration, trading-card growth, and continued demand for runner-inspired silhouettes.

Luxury resale specifically has also become a distinct, fast-growing sub-category by 2026: it is valued at $41.61 billion in 2026 and is expected to reach $60.11 billion by 2030, while the broader secondhand fashion and luxury market sits at an estimated $210–220 billion currently, with projections of $320–360 billion by 2030.

What Hasn’t Changed

Apparel is still a meaningful but minority share of overall resale activity.  It represents only about 25% of the overall recommerce economy, with the remaining 75% spanning electronics, furniture, sporting goods, auto parts, and collectibles, reinforcing the 2024 report’s point that Canadian consignment inventory spans far beyond clothing into furniture, home decor, sporting goods, and collectibles.

Low overall market concentration persists. As in 2024 (top four companies at 32% of market revenue), Canada’s used goods retail sector in 2026 remains fragmented, consistent with the global pattern described as “highly fragmented, creating both opportunity and urgency for those looking to lead the next phase of resale market growth.

Affordability, not just sustainability, remains the leading consumer motivator, a continuation of the 2024 finding that about three-quarters of Canadian secondhand shoppers cited saving money as their primary reason for buying used.

Key Data Points for 2026

• Canada Used Goods Stores market size: $3.1 billion (2026), IBISWorld [4]
• Number of used goods businesses in Canada: 2,195 (2026), IBISWorld [4]
• Canada broader recommerce market: US$4.72 billion (2025), forecast to US$6.66 billion by 2029, ResearchAndMarkets [5]
• Canada real GDP growth: 1.7% (full-year 2025); 1.1%–1.8% forecast range for 2026 according to Bank of Canada [2]
• Canada population: ~40.5–41.4 million (2026), with the first annual population decline since Confederation recorded in early 2026
• Global secondhand sneaker market: $11.97 billion (2026), projected to reach $26.3 billion by 2035
• Global luxury resale market: $41.61 billion (2026), projected to reach $60.11 billion by 2030
• Global secondhand market overall: $393 billion, per ThredUp’s 2026 Resale Report [6]  

 

FAQ: Starting and Understanding Consignment Resale in Canada

How do I start a consignment business in Canada?

Begin by choosing a niche (apparel, sneakers, furniture, luxury goods, kids’ items, etc.), registering your business provincially or federally, and securing a location or deciding to launch online-first. From there, set clear consignor agreements (commission splits, payout terms, unsold-item policies), and put inventory management software in place from day one, tracking consigned items, multiple consignors, and payouts manually does not scale past a handful of sellers.

How much money do I need to open a consignment store in Canada?

Costs vary widely by format. A brick-and-mortar shop typically requires funds for lease/deposit, fixtures, point-of-sale and inventory software, and initial marketing, often in the tens of thousands of dollars. An online-only or hybrid consignment model (using remote item entry from consignors) can launch with significantly less capital since there’s no inventory buy-in and lower storage overhead.

What resale category sells the most in Canada?

Apparel, electronics, and home goods are currently the most active recommerce categories in Canada, with growth increasingly driven by fashion resale platforms, electronics refurbishers, and national retailers entering the space. Sneakers and luxury goods are smaller by volume but are among the fastest-growing categories, alongside furniture and home decor.

Is consignment reselling profitable in Canada in 2026?

Consignment carries low financial risk for retailers since inventory isn’t paid for upfront, and Canada’s resale sector has continued to grow even as broader GDP growth has slowed, a pattern consistent with resale’s reputation as a relatively recession-resistant category. Profitability still depends on commission structure, turnover speed, and keeping operating costs (especially labor for item intake) under control.

Do I need special licensing to run a consignment shop in Canada?

Requirements vary by province and municipality, but generally you’ll need standard business registration, a business number from the CRA, and any local retail permits your municipality requires. Some categories, such as firearms, certain jewelry, or vehicles, carry additional regulatory requirements, so it’s worth checking category-specific rules before listing inventory.

Ready to Grow Your Consignment or Resale Business?

Whether you’re opening your first consignment boutique or scaling a multi-location resale operation, Aravenda Consignment Software supports every stage of the journey, from personalized onboarding and AI-powered item entry, to multi-location and multi-consignor inventory management, to a fully integrated Shopify storefront that helps you sell online and in-store from day one. As Canada’s resale market keeps evolving in 2026, Aravenda gives consignment and resale businesses the tools to manage inventory, consignor payouts, and sales all in one place.

Start your free trial | View a demo | Explore pricing

 

Sources:

[1] Aravenda’s “Canada” resale statistics page (2024) with data available as of August 2026. 

[2] Statistics Canada, the Bank of Canada

[3] Canada’s federal budget office

[4] IBISWorld

[5] ResearchAndMarkets

[6] ThredUp’s 2026 Resale Report