A tale of two online marketplaces - eBay splashes out $1.2 billion to boost re-commerce footprint as turnaround-needy Etsy divests Depop

The rise in people buying used clothing has resulted $1.2 billion transaction between two C2C (Consumer-to-Consumer) e-commerce champions as eBay buys Etsy’s second-hand fashion marketplace Depop.

Etsy itself had bought Depop back in 2021 for $1.63 billion, so eBay got a good price, especially since Depop’s market boasts three million active sellers and seven million active buyers - and they’re mostly (90%) that most sought-after of retail targets, Gen Z. Jamie Ianonne, eBay CEO makes no secret of that being one of the acquisitions attractions, although it’s far from being the only one:

This acquisition is compelling on a number of fronts. Re-commerce is one of the fastest-growing segments in global retail, led by Gen Z and millennial consumers who prioritize sustainability, individuality and value. These consumers are accelerating the shift towards circular fashion through social-driven shopping behaviors.

Depop's mobile-first social forward experience has ...