How de-cluttering grew Facebook Marketplace to 1bn users (2024)

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How de-cluttering grew Facebook Marketplace to 1bn users (1)Image source, Saytani Mitra

By Suzanne Bearne

Business reporter

Sayantani Mitra says she now scrolls through listings on Facebook Marketplace "for hours".

A 28-year-old from Oxford, prior to the pandemic she "would buy everything from charity shops, whether that's furniture, clothes, or bags and accessories".

But with lockdowns closing High Streets last year, her hunt for second-hand bargains switched to listings websites and apps.

Ms Mitra also now uses eBay and sites Vinted and Vestiaire, which both specialise in people selling pre-owned clothing. But she says that Facebook Marketplace is her "first place to go" because it focuses on sellers who live nearby.

"There's a thrill in finding something unique on there," says Ms Mitra, whose purchases over the past year have included a fridge freezer, plant stands, and a dining room table.

The boss of home decoration brand Jurande, she adds: "It's convenient as I can collect from nearby. I have literally collected from around the corner."

Facebook does not release standalone financial details for Marketplace. It is in fact free for non-business users to put up a simple sales listing, as the firm makes it money from users simply being on its ecosystem and seeing all the advertisements on the site.

However, Marketplace's user numbers have soared during the pandemic. Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg recently revealed that Marketplace now has more than one billion global users., external This is up from a reported 800 million in 2018, for a service that was only launched in 2016.

At the same time, eBay says it saw a surge in the number of people in the UK selling second-hand items last year. It found that more than two-thirds of UK users said they had started selling pre-owned goods in 2020 to earn extra cash during the pandemic., external

Ebay says that two second-hand fashion items were sold via its UK website and app every second in 2020.

"What we saw was a lot of people in their homes surrounded by their stuff, and looking at it every day and thinking 'what don't I need?', or realising they could make a bit of money out of it," says eBay's UK head of consumer selling, Emma Grant.

"Also, it was a time when people became money conscious. There's also been a surge in sustainable shopping, even beyond the people wanting to do the right thing, of finding joy in unique [second-hand] items."

Image source, Emma Grant

For some people, such as 27-year-old Lapoze McTribouy, the pandemic has helped turn a hobby of selling second-hand clothing into a career.

She had been selling via pre-owned clothes website and app, Depop, on-and-off since 2013. But after being put on furlough last year, and then losing her job, she started to focus more on selling vintage clothing.

"I'd wanted to take it more seriously, and take it full time," says Ms McTribouy, who lives in London. "It was the right time."

She now sells about six items a week, many of which can fetch up to £150. "I live off this now," she says.

"It hasn't been an easy process though. People think you make money straight away, but I'd have months where I'd have to rely on my partner. But then others were, I'm like, 'we've got extra income'."

Ms McTribouy scouts charity shops, eBay and other vintage sellers for stock. "It's not just selling - you can put your creativity into whether that's the styling, or the background [you want an item of clothing to have]."

Depop reportedly now has more than 30 million global users, of which 90% are under 26. A UK business, it was bought last month by US ecommerce firm Etsy for $1.62bn (£1.2bn). Etsy's chief executive Josh Silverman called Depop "the resale home for Gen-Z consumers".

While selling second-hand goods online has surged over the past year, there also appears to have been a big rise in people giving away things via websites and apps since the pandemic.

Olio is a UK app that allows people to give away surplus food and household items to people living near them. It reported a six-fold increase in the number of non-food items added to the app since March 2020.

Tiphaine Berger, a 38-year-old IT worker from York, says she has seen this boom first hand.

"Before the pandemic there was just one other person in the area on Olio," she says. "But it really boomed in the first lockdown because charity shops were closed. That was when people started donating, and getting rid of stuff.

Image source, Tiphaine Berger

"I use Olio because I hate waste. We de-cluttered and got rid of a lot of glasses and cups, then received plant pots, lamps, lights, picture frames, a new set of cushions."

But has all this online selling and donating had a negative impact on the UK's physical charity shops? Have they seen fewer donated items? Oxfam says that, thankfully, it has not, as many people still want to help good causes.

"All of our High Street shops were closed during lockdowns, and were not accepting donations," says Lorna Fallon, Oxfam's retail director. But the public has been really supportive and we have seen higher-than-average levels of donated goods since shops re-opened.

"We also launched a successful, free postal donation service in March that allows supporters to donate items without visiting a shop. Our supporters know that when they donate items to an Oxfam shop they are helping people to escape poverty and survive humanitarian disasters."

Mintel fashion analyst Tamara Sender says that the big increase in the buying and selling of second-hand clothing online has been led by young people who "in particular have suffered the financial consequences of the pandemic", and thus "they have become thriftier".

She adds that, pleasingly, charities are now increasingly being integrated into this new online world. "Depop has opened a British Heart Foundation online shop on its marketplace," she says. "And [another second-hand clothing seller] Asos Marketplace has also added products from numerous charities to its site.

New Tech Economy is a series exploring how technological innovation is set to shape the new emerging economic landscape.

"As people increasingly buy second-hand fashion online, there is scope for more charity retailers to work with fashion brands to capitalise on the growing appetite for pre-loved fashion."

Cancer Research UK is one of the charities on Asos Marketplace. It also has collections on Depop, eBay, and Vestiare.

"Our online sales rose by 11% over the last year, and we're expecting to increase our online income by £1.5m in the next two years," says Josephine Mewett, head of retail operations at Cancer Research UK. "By donating pre-loved items and shopping with us, people are not only doing their bit for the environment, but also helping fund life-saving research to beat cancer."

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How de-cluttering grew Facebook Marketplace to 1bn users (2024)

FAQs

How to get more customers on Facebook Marketplace? ›

Here are a few ideas to help you market successfully with FB Marketplace.
  1. Increase The Odds Of Being Discovered By New Customers. ...
  2. Run Facebook Ads For Marketplace Placement. ...
  3. Create Trust With Customers. ...
  4. Use Tracking. ...
  5. Make Use FB's Personalization. ...
  6. Use Chatbot Technology. ...
  7. Keep Testing New Products.

What gets bought the most on Facebook Marketplace? ›

Best Selling Items on Facebook Marketplace
  • Gardening Item. ...
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  • Jewelry. Trending jewelry is sure to sell on Facebook. ...
  • Vehicles. Vehicles can be one of the best things to sell on Facebook Marketplace.
Jan 6, 2023

What are the demographics of Facebook Marketplace users? ›

People Between 25 and 35 Years Old Make Up the Largest Part of Users on the Facebook Marketplace. Studies reveal that people between 25 and 35 are the Facebook marketplace's major age demographic. This is followed by those between 35 and 44 years who have a share of 18.4% participation in the Facebook marketplace.

How do I get more people to see my Marketplace on Facebook? ›

To boost your Marketplace listing:
  1. Go to Marketplace and click Your account.
  2. In Your listings section, find the listing you want to boost and click Boost listing.
  3. Select your total budget with the recommended campaign duration or choose a custom option. ...
  4. If your listing is an item with shipping, select your audience.

What sells faster on Facebook Marketplace? ›

Some of the best-selling items on Facebook Marketplace (FBMP) are home decor, print-on-demand, and seasonal products. Similarly, baby supplies, pet supplies, and electronic items sell well on FBMP.

What sells really well on Marketplace? ›

Top Products that sell best on Facebook Marketplace in 2024

These include electronics, home and garden items, clothing and accessories, and health and beauty products. Electronics are always in high demand on Facebook Marketplace. This includes smartphones, laptops, gaming consoles, and other gadgets.

How do I maximize my profit on Facebook Marketplace? ›

Let's go over a few next-level strategies to increase your sales.
  1. Boost your listings. ...
  2. Offer free local delivery. ...
  3. Take great photos. ...
  4. Post your listing in local selling groups. ...
  5. Renew your post. ...
  6. Expand to other marketplaces.
Apr 2, 2024

How many clicks are good on Facebook Marketplace? ›

Generally, a conversion rate of 1-3% is considered average, so you might need anywhere from 100 to 300 clicks to see a sale. Optimizing your ads and targeting can help improve this rate.

What are the cons of selling on Facebook Marketplace? ›

Unlike other eCommerce platforms, Facebook Marketplace does not offer any guarantees or warranties on the items being sold. This can lead to scams or fraudulent transactions, which can be difficult to resolve.

Why is Facebook Marketplace gone? ›

To help protect the Marketplace community from scams, accounts that have been created recently can't use Marketplace. If you recently created your account, check back later to see if you have access. In the meantime, you can still use buy and sell groups. Be in a location where Marketplace is available.

Why can't I delete sold items on Facebook Marketplace? ›

If the listing has an order that's pending, waiting to be accepted or declined, or has been shipped or sold, it can't be edited or deleted.

What is the most popular category on Facebook Marketplace? ›

Ever wonder what the most popular categories are on Facebook Marketplace? According to the company, the top five categories in the US include: Household items; Furniture; Baby and kids items; Women's clothing and shoes; and Cars, trucks, and motorcycles.

Which country uses Facebook Marketplace most? ›

4: India is Facebook's biggest audience.

The second biggest Facebook target audience is the U.S., with 193.8 users, followed by Indonesia, Brazil, and Mexico (with 119.05, 112.55, and 92.7 million users, respectively).

Do people still use Facebook in 2024? ›

As of July 2024, 24.2 percent of Facebook users in the United States were aged between 25 and 34 years, making up Facebook's largest audience in the country. Overall, 19 percent of users belonged to the 18 to 24-year age group.

How do I get more orders on Marketplace Facebook? ›

Tips for boosting your Facebook Marketplace sales
  1. Set a competitive price. Before pricing your items, browse comparable listings to see what others are asking. ...
  2. Take great photos. Photos are the lifeblood of Marketplace listings. ...
  3. Include search tags. ...
  4. Offer local delivery. ...
  5. Renew your listings.
Oct 5, 2023

How do I make my Facebook Marketplace listing more popular? ›

Go to Your Listings in Marketplace, select Boost Listing for the item you wish to boost. Set your budget, duration and audience. Select your total budget with the recommended campaign duration or choose a custom option. For Shipped listings you can also modify your target audience.

How to reach the most people on Facebook Marketplace? ›

The following are ways you can get more views on the Facebook marketplace:
  1. Upload a clear photo of the item(s). ...
  2. Write an accurate title for the listing. ...
  3. Add a description on the listing. ...
  4. Include Tags. ...
  5. Price it Right. ...
  6. Boost Your Listing. ...
  7. Crosslist from Facebook Marketplace to other Marketplaces.

How can I increase my customers on Facebook? ›

These 13 organic reach tactics mixed with an ads strategy can ensure your business is reaching the people it needs to on Facebook.
  1. Understand your target audience. ...
  2. Know the best times to post on Facebook. ...
  3. Post consistently. ...
  4. Focus on quality content. ...
  5. Respond to your customers. ...
  6. Improve your use of images and video.
Apr 2, 2024

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