Marie Ellis·20th December 2018·4 mins read

Shpock’s 5 Top Tips for Christmas

Shpock’s 5 Top Tips for Christmas have been looking to sell some of my things over Christmas and New Year. As part of a declutter session, I wanted to sell the clothes I love but don’t wear. My colleague recommended Shpock.

Shpock is a mobile marketplace that brings millions of private buyers and sellers and local businesses together. The categories range from electronics, fashion and furniture to specialised interests such as cars and property.

Shpock has more than 10 million active users and over 2 billion page impressions. These numbers and regular #1 rankings in the App & Google Play Store in 6 countries (UK, Germany Italy, Austria, Sweden and Norway) make Shpock one of Europe’s most dominant shopping apps.

As an experiment, I am going to sell 5 items of clothes this week and am going to report back on the success after New Year.

Shpock’s 5 Top Tips for Christmas:

1. Plan Ahead

Use lists and/or organiser apps to plan your Christmas effectively. Set aside a strict amount of time and budget for food, decorations and gifts so you never overspend or last-minute panic buy.

2. Shop Savvy

Rather than splashing out on new things, finding bargain second-hand gifts in your area can really boost your bank account as well as help contribute to the environment.

3. Sell Online

Using Shpock to sell things you no longer need can save up some much-needed cash ahead of the big day. Electronics, clothing, toys or furniture; what you sell might actually be the perfect Christmas gift for someone else.

4. Create Your Decorations

There are hundreds of videos with Christmas decoration ideas online that you can try out to brighten up your home. Getting your kids involved can make it a fun festive activity for the whole family

5. Try Out Local Events

Check your local paper for free and low budget fun activities for all the family. Christmas markets and town centres often have free shows, carol services and special Santa meetups. Staying cosy at home with hot chocolate and a festive movie can be just as fun as a big night out.

UK households sitting on £530 worth of unused things

In 2019 with spring cleaning on the nation’s mind. A study by the mobile marketplace Shpock, in co-operation with YouGov, has shown that constant hoarding is leading to unhappy minds and a lack of storage space for UK households. The findings show what people are struggling with when it comes to decluttering and how they are overcoming it.

The Clutter Issue

In British homes, many unused items build up over time. This is why 49% of Brits want more storage space. This rises to 60% in London, with extra space at a premium in the capital. Shpock can reveal unworn clothes are a major cause of the clutter. 72% of Brits own clothes they haven’t worn in a year (77% among female respondents). 54% even admitted to owning clothes they will never wear again. However, it’s not just clothes that are cluttering up UK homes. Unused smartphones, electronics, sports equipment, furniture, games and books are all taking up unnecessary space.

Decluttering is good for the soul:

To solve the issue, 56% of Brits claim to have decluttered at least once in the past year:

48% stated they felt happier afterwards
44% were pleased with the additional storage space it provided
39% felt relieved. Often having many unused items can be a burden
27% felt energetic afterwards
Just 9% of Brits missed the items once the clear-out was over

More money for other purchases

In the aftermath of a big decluttering, 15% of Brits sell the unwanted items online to fund a bigger purchase. This is even higher for 18-34 year-olds (26%) who value the added spending power. British households average an estimated £530 worth of unused things.

“There is a real opportunity to cash in and use the earnings to help pay for something they actually want such as a car or holiday”, explains Conor Gannon, Shpock spokesperson. “At Shpock, we believe this figure is even higher as the majority of people undervalue the items in their home. Many forget about valuable electronics, bikes and antiques.”