THE USAGE AND SALE OF SECOND HAND CLOTHING AMONG NIGERIANHOUSEHOLDS: A CASE STUDY ENUGU STATE

Abstract

This study investigated the sales and usage of secondhand clothing in Enugu north local government area of Enugu State. Sales and usage of secondhand clothing is a major occupation, for which, Igbo people are famous. With the economic downturn, more Igbo people have taken to the  sales  of secondhand  clothing.  Today,  sales  of  secondhand  clothing  are  no longer exclusive Igbo affairs. Government policy has caused inflation, which has in turn, deprived people employment and even choices in terms of wears. As a result, patronage of used clothes that was a character of the low income earner, and people with no or low education, has become an attraction to educated folks as well as medium income earners. Market liberalization which allowed for the importation of goods at reduced costs into Nigeria provided opportunity for Secondhand Clothing  Trade  to  expand.  Thus because  locally  manufactured  garments  are retailed  expensively,  these  apparel  have  become  highly  marketable  and  affordable  to consumerst. Data were collected from a random sample of 220 second hand apparel traders drawn from five market centers in Enugu. The study revealed that having startup capital and providing high quality merchandise to consumers were major motivating factors to respondents that ventured into this business. Therefore, the study recommends that local apparel traders adopt these factors, to increase their business viability and success.