Footwear brand New Balance has launched its Reconsidered resale programme allowing shoppers to buy pre-owned shoes on its website.
The footwear business’ resale scheme includes consumer returns that have been cleaned as needed and cosmetically imperfect footwear that cannot be sold as new.
Gently worn New Balance shoes can be traded in via post or dropped off in-store, where customers will receive a voucher, the value of which is based on the seasonality and condition of the shoes.
The voucher can be put towards their next online New Balance purchase.
The technology that supports the New Balance Reconsidered experience is supported by tech start-up Archive, which develops resale solutions for brands like Sandro, Maje and The North Face.
Textile engineering firm Tersus Solutions will be tasked with product cleaning, fulfilment and warehousing, offering an innovative waterless cleaning technology alongside a suite of textile reclamation solutions.
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New Balance director of sustainability John Stokes said: “We know the footwear industry has a significant environmental impact, including too many products ending up in a landfill”.
“There are many things that have to shift. Launching Reconsidered is one piece of the puzzle with a program objective to help extend product life for some of our product and get the most from what is already made.”
Customers in the US can take part in the scheme. The Reconsidered in-store trade-in programme will be piloted at eight retail locations before scaling into more stores in the US later this year.
