From April 22, Lululemon (LULU) buyers can exchange used items such as pants, tops, shorts, jackets and more in exchange for an electronic gift card as part of the “Lululemon Like New” program. The retailer said all returned items would be cleared and evaluated for resale through a partnership with Trove, a re-industry specialist. The chain will then offer the approved items for resale at lululemon.com The value of the gift cards that customers receive will vary, depending on the type of item they are trading with and its condition after being approved for resale. The retailer will offer $ 5 for T-shirts, T-shirts, short-sleeved and long-sleeved shirts and shorts, $ 10 for sweatshirts, sweatshirts, sweaters, pants, crops, leggings, dresses and bags and $ 25 for Lululemon coats and jackets. This is something that keeps clothes away from landfills. But for a company that sells shirts for $ 60 and hoodies for $ 120, you will not get a huge return on your investment. You may be able to get better deals at other used stores: Used Lululemon clothes have much higher prices elsewhere. “Lululemon Like New is just one example of how we work to create a circular ecosystem and offer ways to extend the life of our product,” said Maureen Erikson, Senior Vice President of Lululemon at Global Guest Innovation. “Buying a used car is no longer a trend, it’s a new normal situation here – our pilot has shown that our community is passionate about engaging in re-trade.” Neil Saunders, retail analyst and CEO of GlobalData Retail, noted that other active clothing brands have also resold their used products, including Nike, Adidas and Patagonia. “The resale is ideal for Lululemon, as its well-designed, high-quality products are designed to last and have a relatively long life cycle,” Saunders said. “In addition, when new ones are bought, Lululemon items are expensive, so there is a great demand for slightly cheaper alternatives in the used car market.” One challenge in reselling sportswear, he noted, is buyers who are concerned about the idea that someone is already wearing – and sweating – on these clothes. “However, by controlling the process itself rather than selling through third-party platforms,” ​​Sanders said, “Lululemon can overcome some of these objections as the brand is known for its high quality, good customer service and reliability.”