Live Out of a (Used) Suitcase: Residential Mobility and Second-Hand Product Consumption
(A2025-124218)

AUTHORS

G. Ceren (Gerry) Aksu, UMass Boston; Aylin Cakanlar, Frankfurt School of Finance & Management; Gergana Nenkov, Boston College

ABSTRACT

There is growing public interest in second-hand consumption, which enhances resource efficiency and minimizes waste, and an increasing number of brands are taking ownership of their second-hand markets. Given these trends, understanding the factors that drive consumers to choose second-hand options is important. This research examines the role of residential mobility—the degree to which individuals change residence—on second-hand product consumption. Seven studies demonstrate that residential mobility enhances consumers’ preference for second-hand (vs. new) products and fosters more positive evaluations toward brands that sell second-hand products. This effect occurs because second-hand products, which offer connections to places, people, and the past, provide a sense of groundedness that residentially mobile people lack. This research contributes to the literature on residential mobility and sustainable behavior and underscores strategies for brands promoting second-hand offerings.