Patagonia promotes used clothes on eBay
US-based outdoor apparel company Patagonia has launched an eBay storefront where it will not sell its own products, but instead promote used Patagonia clothing from eBay sellers.
The California company, which already has its own online store, will compete against eBay merchants selling their own products and won’t receive any compensation for the sales.
Patagonia’s founder and owner, Yvon Chouinard, said that making money is not the point. He just wants people to reuse still-wearable Patagonia apparel rather than buying new clothes, as a way of helping to preserve the environment.
The company made $400 million in sales in 2010 and is on pace to grow 25% this year. Mr Chouinard owns the company along with his wife and two children. “I’m in business for different reasons,” he said. “I’ve made all the money I could possibly need.”
While acknowledging the environmental goal of the partnership, eBay CEO John Donahoe said there could be business benefits. By promoting used and presumably cheaper products, Patagonia products are now available to customers who might not want to pay full price for new items, he said.
“Patagonia is extending its customer base and increasing it,” Mr Donahoe says “People who are selling it are likely to turn around, take the money they got, and buy the new Patagonia products.”
