John Lewis links with Sign of the Times on pre-owned designer handbags

John Lewis has entered the pre-owned designer handbag market with its webstore featuring products from ultra-luxe labels for the first time.

As is usually the way with such initiatives, the retailer has linked up with a specialist — in this case it’s Sign of the Times, which is sourcing and supplying all of the bags. It’s also opening a permanent shop in John Lewis’s Peter Jones store in Chelsea following the “huge success” of their pop-up.

It comes as the retailer said that searches for ‘pre-loved handbags’ and ‘second hand jewellery’ on johnlewis.com are both up (+24% and +23% year on year).

John Lewis added that the new pre-owned designer products will double the amount of designer secondhand products available online at its webstore.

It already offers secondhand jewellery from a variety of suppliers “with a new focus on designer pieces from the likes of Chanel, Christian Dior, Saint Laurent and Gucci.

While the department store chain isn’t known for ultra-luxury products, it does have a strong accessible luxury and premium offer and it said that demand for premium handbags has increased in recent years, as they now represent nearly 65% of all handbag sales across John Lewis.

It currently sells new bags from brands including Mulberry, Longchamp, Strathberry and Coach as well as including higher-end labels such as Prada, Celine, Saint Laurent and Chanel in its wider accessories offer, such as sunglasses.

Danielle Gagola, Innovation Lead at John Lewis said: “We’ve seen tremendous success with our pre-loved designer pop-up with Sign of the Times in our Peter Jones shop and are thrilled to continue to build and make shopping more sustainably easier for our customers through johnlewis.com.

“As a brand we are committed to prolonging a product’s life, whether that is buying secondhand, renting or more recently offering repairs. Doubling our pre-loved offering online is just one step in the right direction and one we will continue to grow for our customers.”

As mentioned, the Sign Of the Times pop-up has been a success at Peter Jones and in the first six months over 300 luxury designer pieces were purchased, with customers saving on average 58% versus the original retail price. 

Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Prada have been the most popular labels from the pop-up and all will be available online, with each product carefully selected by Sign of the Times.

Customers will also be able to bring in their designer products to the permanent space in Peter Jones to be sold or they can send a message to the Sign of the Times team with imagery of the product and “organise a collection for the product to be authenticated and valued to then be rehomed”. 

And John Lewis Oxford Street is also taking resale further in a link with childrenswear rental and resale brand Thelittleloop. Customers can buy second-hand clothing at the in-store pop-up.