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Lululemon the latest brand to bet on resale as second-hand clothing becomes big business. Wed, September 2, 2026 at 1:00 a.m. PDT Lululemon is the latest retailer to expand into the resale market as second-hand shopping increasingly moves from thrift stores and online marketplaces into brands' own ecosystems. The Vancouver-based athletic and leisurewear company joins other major brands, such as Canada Goose and Arc'teryx, that are rethinking their approach to used clothing. The effects of that rethink can be seen inside a 25,000-square-foot processing hub in Calgary run by Tersus Solutions, where Lululemon returns are cleaned, graded and processed for resale as part of the brand's Like New service. It's the first Canadian facility opened by Denver-based Tersus, which, along with returns, will also handle used Lululemon items sold for resale by customers across the country. Experts say the appeal of resale to companies is simple: a product that might otherwise be written off can potentially be sold again while they can earn loyalty from buyers, who are reimbursed with credit that can go toward other products. That means customers benefit by saving on newer products, and there is also an obvious benefit in terms of sustainability. Lululemon launched Like New in Canada last month. Customers can buy and sell their pre-owned Lululemon clothing among themselves through the online platform. According to its FAQ page, customers can receive 70 per cent of the sale price in cash or 90 per cent in store credit. To sell an item, listers need a receipt for proof of purchase - but some items might be eligible for a trade in if there's no receipt, according to the Like New website. Lululemon declined an interview. "Our products are created with high standards for technical performance and quality, which makes them perfectly suited for life well beyond a single owner," said Maureen Erickson, Lululemon's senior vice-president of retail experience, in a news release. "Like New extends the life of that product, giving guests a trusted way to keep great gear in use." 'One of their higher margin business lines' At the Tersus Solutions facility in Calgary, clothing is inspected, cleaned using a proprietary liquid CO2 cleaning system that doesn't require any water, then refurbished and graded. Even though the facility is mostly focusing on returned items for resale at this stage, the number of orders it's processing has been "phenomenal" so far, according to Tersus general manager Steve Bommer. He says the facility has been receiving between 1,000 and 1,500 items a day. While the majority of items being processed for now are in-store or online returns, the numbers are "far exceeding" expectations, Bommer said. Tersus CEO Peter Whitcomb said the company's business in the U.S. has grown tenfold in the past five years as more brands look for ways to recover value from returned and used merchandise. "If you talk to any of our customers, they would actually say this is one of their higher margin business lines because these are damaged goods that are getting written off and they're getting sold again," said Whitcomb. He said Tersus works with brands such as New Balance, the North Face and Arc'teryx in the U.S. and is planning to expand in Canada. David Ian Gray, a retail analyst with DIG360 Consulting and instructor in retails studies at Capilano University in North Vancouver, B.C., said retailers are looking for ways to tap into a second-hand market where their products are already bought and sold. "The use of Facebook Marketplace, in particular, has just exploded for pre-owned items and the buying and selling of pre-owned items has certainly gone mainstream in Canada," said Gray. A DIG360/Angus Reid Institute study released in August 2025 found 77 per cent of Canadians bought pre-owned items in the past year. For retailers, Gray said bringing resale under their own brand can open the door to customers who may not be willing or able to pay full price for their products. "They could be drawing in some new customers and they could be bringing different price points and different quality levels to people that maybe economically, especially right now are under some pressure to manage budgets." Outside a Calgary Lululemon, shopper Stacey Hannah said she is already on the lookout for a deal and would consider buying or selling through the company's resale platform. "With the economy the way it is, sometimes, you can't spend the money on things. I usually shop the sale rack. [The resale platform] would definitely be something that I would use," Hannah said. Early adopters of resale Victoria-based clothing company Anián was an early adopter of resale, launching its own marketplace for customers to sell their Anián products to other shoppers in 2021. "Circularity is built into the principals of Anián from the beginning. We start with post-consumer recycled fabrics," said COO Jeff Papa. Papa said the resale site has attracted about 250,000 visits over the past two years and generated roughly $200,000 worth of sales. "That also represents about 3,600 pounds [1,630 kilograms] of textile waste that we've kept out of the landfill through that program," he said. Sellers receive the full sale price as credit toward another Anián purchase. "It's an easy entry into the brand at price points that are 40 per cent of what our retail value is," said Papa. Other companies have been doing this even longer. IKEA Canada launched its Sell-back program in 2019. The company said in the 2025 fiscal year, 12,371 items were brought back through the program, with customers receiving an in-store credit. Gray said offering resale doesn't necessarily mean turning a premium brand into a discount retailer. "It's not a discount model. It's a model that works at a different price point," he said.

The Edmonton group chat: what your friends are talking about this week (Sept. 1). Sep 1, 2026 Alyssa is a Staff Writer for Dished and Curiocity Edmonton. She's a big fan of everything entertainment, and can always be seen running around the city going from concert to concert. Welcome to Edmonton's group chat, your weekly roundup of what's trending, what's new, and what's actually worth talking about. Here, you can get the hottest events and news right to your group chat without any issues. If your friends are talking about it, you're going to find everything you need to know right in this article. As Curiocity head into fall, Edmonton continues to be filled with bustling energy coming from all directions. Whether it's a new store, a new event, or some exciting news involving the city Curiocity know and love, Curiocity has got all the details - not just for you, but for your group chat too. What's trending, Edmonton? Jumping into the first week of September, Curiocity is starting the month off strong with a high of 27°C today, Sept. 1. Though, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada, the rest of the week will be going back and forth between rain on Thursday and Saturday, and sunny skies with a high over 20°C on Wednesday and Friday. The North Face just opened its new location on Level Two, Phase II of West Edmonton Mall. Here, you'll be able to find a whole bunch of gear and apparel you'll want for your next trip into the wild. Or, maybe you're just wanting one of the most popular winter coats in recent history. Following the demolition of the Mind Bender, West Edmonton Mall and Galaxyland immediately started cooking up a coaster to follow in its footsteps. Now, the countdown has started for this epic new ride, with details promised soon (as well as a whole documentary in the works). Every Tuesday (starting today) in Churchill Square this September, guests will get the opportunity to learn a type of Latin dance like salsa or bachata for free, all thanks to ETOWN SALSA. Whether you've got some experience or a beginner to the art of Latin dance, these free dance classes are going to give you the chance to learn and do something entirely new. The Old Strathcona Farmers Market is Edmonton's biggest original indoor farmers market, and it brings more than 140 local vendors together under one roof every weekend. Since 1983, this farmers market has operated with a fine assortment of vendors and artisan crafters, continuing to be one of the best markets in the city. There's no time crunch on this one; just head down whatever weekend you want and check out everything it has to offer! Alyssa gallardo. Alyssa is a Staff Writer for Dished and Curiocity Edmonton. She's a big fan of everything entertainment, and can always be seen running around the city going from concert to concert.