Google released the search terms during this year’s commemoration of Earth Day The data indicates that the searches originated mostly from Mombasa followed by Nairobi.
Kenyans are searching online for thrift stores, revealing an interest in second-hand goods. According to Google search trends, searches for the terms ‘thrift meaning’ and ‘thrift stores’ have increased by 160 percent.
“Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, new data from Google Search Trends reveals that Kenyans have taken a particular interest in searching for ‘Thrifting’; the buying and selling of second-hand items that have been gently used,” Google Kenya Communications and Public Affairs Manager Sharon Machira said.
The majority of internet thrift stores are tiny enterprises that sell used clothing, furniture, household items, antiques, and even art.
On April 22, 2022, Earth Day was 52 years old. It serves as a reminder to humanity to protect and preserve the mother earth and her biodiversity to make the world a better place for future generations.
“The global fashion industry accounts for 10% of carbon emissions; therefore, Kenya’s interest in upcycling and recycling items is a win for the planet,” Machira remarked.
Google for Small Businesses is a one-stop-shop for small businesses looking for answers and guidance on how to go online and grow. Because of the portal’s enhanced visibility, customers can simply find the things they’re looking for.
Customers can simply identify thrift stores and learn about the latest thrifting trends thanks to Thrift with Google, while small business owners benefit from the opportunity to advertise their locations on Google Maps for increased visibility. Thrift content creation on YouTube, where thrift store owners build channels to sell their wares, has also increased dramatically.
Kenyan retailers spent Sh485 billion on second-hand clothes imports between 2016 and 2020, according to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). The commodities are usually shipped through the Mombasa port and Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
For some, thrifting has become a necessity because of economics, while for others, it is a joyful method to seek for the unique.