Lululemon has entered the resale market trend by introducing its Like New service, following the lead of other prominent brands like Canada Goose and Arc’teryx. The company’s move to refurbish and resell returned items is evident at a 25,000-square-foot processing hub in Calgary managed by Tersus Solutions, where Lululemon products undergo cleaning, grading, and preparation for resale.
The appeal for companies to tap into the resale market lies in the opportunity to resell products that would otherwise be discarded, while also fostering customer loyalty through credit rewards that can be used for future purchases. This approach benefits customers by offering savings on newer items and contributes to sustainability efforts.
Lululemon’s Like New initiative, launched in Canada recently, allows customers to buy and sell pre-owned Lululemon apparel through an online platform. The company offers sellers the choice of receiving 70% of the sale price in cash or 90% in store credit, with some items eligible for trade-in even without a proof of purchase.
The Tersus Solutions facility in Calgary utilizes a unique liquid CO2 cleaning system for processing clothing items, focusing mainly on refurbishing returned goods for resale. Despite the initial focus on processing returns, the facility has experienced a significant influx of orders, handling between 1,000 to 1,500 items daily.
Peter Whitcomb, CEO of Tersus Solutions, highlighted the substantial growth of their business in the U.S. over the past five years, emphasizing the value recovery from returned and used merchandise for brands. Tersus collaborates with renowned brands such as New Balance, the North Face, and Arc’teryx in the U.S. and plans to expand its operations in Canada.
Retail analyst David Ian Gray noted the increasing popularity of second-hand markets in Canada, with a DIG360/Angus Reid Institute study revealing that 77% of Canadians have bought pre-owned items in the past year. Retailers are leveraging the resale trend to attract new customers and offer varied price points and quality levels amidst economic pressures.
Anián, a Victoria-based clothing company, embraced resale early on by establishing a marketplace for customers to resell Anián products to fellow shoppers. COO Jeff Papa highlighted the company’s commitment to sustainability through circularity and the positive environmental impact of their resale program.
IKEA Canada’s Sell-back program, launched in 2019, has also been successful, with over 12,000 items returned in the 2025 fiscal year, providing customers with in-store credits. Gray emphasized that entering the resale market doesn’t equate to devaluing premium brands but rather offers a different pricing model that caters to diverse consumer segments.