Geartrade wins 2023 Outdoor Retailer Innovation Award for national ‘re-commerce’ consignment service

January 16, 2023

The Geartrade Consignment Service was launched in late 2021 after 18 months of research and development. This ‘easy button’ for sellers of used gear includes free shipping and an in-house concierge service that receives, evaluates, photographs and posts all products on behalf of the seller.

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH (JANUARY 16, 2023)/OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – Geartrade, a Climate Neutral Certified marketplace for previously owned (“UnNew”) outdoor gear and apparel, was honored last week as a winner of a 2023 Outdoor Retailer Innovation Award for its groundbreaking national consignment service.

The winners of the fifth annual award were announced in a ceremony on the second night of Outdoor Retailer Snow Show on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, in Salt Lake City, Utah. An independent judging panel also selected 14 product and service winners for their overall innovation and achievement in outdoor product and program development.

“It’s been an incredible year of growth for Geartrade, as well as for the broader marketplace for used gear and apparel. To be named among the finalists for the Outdoor Retailer Innovation Awards is incredibly satisfying, as it shows that the idea of ‘UnNew’ is emerging as a primary consideration of outdoor consumers,” said Aaron Provine, president of Geartrade.

The Geartrade Consignment Service was launched in late 2021 after 18 months of research and development. This ‘easy button’ for sellers of used gear includes free shipping and an in-house concierge service that receives, evaluates, photographs and posts all products on behalf of the seller.

This new category of service combines a robust and proven peer-to-peer sales platform with an overlay of sophisticated shipping and logistics as well as expert human elements needed to accurately price an item and communicate that information to the seller. An essential element of the Geartrade Consignment Service is that it gives the seller full transparency and control of the process, from the power to adjust the price to the decision on whether or not to have unsold product returned or donated to a charitable cause.

The success of the Geartrade Consignment Service has been significant in three areas: overall sales growth, establishment of economic viability as gross margin dollars have also increased; and a sizable increase in consumer participation in the used gear and apparel marketplace.

“For the outdoor industry to achieve the goal of a fully circular economy – one in which every product made is used to its fullest potential for its complete lifespan – it is essential to have a healthy and growing community of used gear buyers and sellers,” said Provine.

According to the Outdoor Retailer Innovation Awards, an independent panel of expert judges evaluated 132 entries to determine 29 finalists, which include innovative new outdoor and winter sport products, fabrics and materials, digital and retail services. The judging panel rated all entries based on four criteria to determine the finalists: Spark: concept, design, appeal; Desire: opportunity, differentiation; Function: innovation, functionality, insight; and Impact: cultural, environmental, business. For a list of all finalists, please click here (LINK).

ABOUT GEAR TRADE: Geartrade is a Climate Neutral Certified and family-owned online marketplace for UnNew outdoor gear and apparel. Founded in 1999 and relaunched in 2019, Geartrade makes it easy to buy and sell used gear, extends the life cycle of all outdoor products, and minimizes their environmental impact wherever they can. Geartrade sellers include individuals, retailers, and manufacturers; and their selling options include both self-listing as well as consignment – which includes free boxes, free shipping, and complete hassle-free posting of all items. For more information or to sell that great old backpack hanging in your garage, please visit Geartrade.com.

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