New Balance will also sell used shoes in the future.
The US sporting goods retailer’s resale program ‘Reconsidered’ resells shoes that have been lightly worn and have slight visual defects, New Balance announced on Monday.
Customer returns are compensated with a voucher, the value of which depends on the season and the condition of the product. After any cleaning, the second-hand shoes are available for sale again on the brand’s website. ‘Reconsidered’ is powered by technology from Archive, a digital platform for resale options, and by Tersus Solutions, which enables waterless cleaning of textiles.
“We know that the footwear industry has a significant impact on the environment and that too many products end up in landfills,” said John Stokes, Director of Sustainability at New Balance. “There are many things that need to change. The launch of ‘Reconsidered’ is one piece of the puzzle with the aim of extending the life of some of our products and getting the most out of what has already been made.”
The resale program will be available at New Balance online stores in the US and as a pilot in eight select US stores.