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This week's cross-category briefing
Good morning. Here is your full cross-category breakdown for the week ending 1 June 2026. We tracked 4,691 listings and confirmed 1,558 sales, giving an overall sell rate of 33.2% at an average sold price of £19.15. That headline number is solid, but the real story this week is in how differently the three categories are performing, and what that means for where you should be putting your time and money right now.
Let's start at the top. Menswear is the clear standout this week. A 40.7% sell rate across 575 listings, with an average sold price of £12.80 and an average days-to-sell of just one day. That is exceptional velocity. Items are not sitting around. Buyers in menswear are decisive this week, and that speed matters because it protects your capital. You list it, it sells, you reinvest. The compounding effect of that rhythm over a summer of sourcing is significant.
Womenswear is doing well too. At 35.7% sell rate across 3,637 listings it is the volume engine of the operation. Average sold price is lower at £10.59 and items take 9.4 days on average. That is fine. The category carries more listings, more competition, and more price sensitivity. But the right brands are converting well, and with summer occasions approaching, the timing is good for dresses, lightweight co-ords, and occasionwear.
Designer is a different animal entirely. A 5.0% sell rate sounds alarming, but the average sold price of £529.29 tells you everything you need to know. These are high-ticket, low-volume transactions. One Cartier piece at £800 does more for your weekly revenue than selling eighty womenswear items at £10. Designer is not struggling, it is just illiquid by nature. The buyers are there, they are just fewer and more specific.
Across all three categories, one theme stands out: activewear is strong everywhere. Lululemon is converting at 64.3% in womenswear. Gymshark hit 80% in menswear. Adanola and AYBL are both above 83% sell rates in womenswear. This is not a coincidence. June and July are peak fitness motivation months for a lot of shoppers, gyms are busy, and people are thinking about their bodies and how they want to look on holiday. If you see quality activewear in a charity shop this week, you buy it. Full stop.
For womenswear specifically, the brands to prioritise right now are Lululemon, Never Fully Dressed, and Lucy & Yak. Never Fully Dressed is at 50% sell rate with an average price of £38. That is a brand people are actively searching for in the run-up to summer parties, weddings, and holidays. Lucy & Yak dungarees and wide-leg trousers in linen or cotton blends are a reliable staple for British summer weather, and they hold price well. Hobbs is converting at 42.9% with an average of £71.67, which makes it one of the best margin brands in the womenswear category this week. Hobbs dresses and blazers show up in charity shops regularly. Do not walk past them.
For menswear, Polo Ralph Lauren is your anchor brand. 87.5% sell rate, average of £17.28, and selling in 0.3 days. That is essentially instant. At car boots and charity shops, polo shirts and rugby shirts from Ralph Lauren in good condition are worth buying at up to £6 to £8 and listing at £18 to £22. Umbro is performing well too at 66.7%, which is interesting timing given Euro 2028 is now two years out but England fixtures and domestic football are keeping retro sportswear in conversation. Gymshark hoodies, joggers, and shorts in menswear are selling fast.
For designer, focus your attention on Cartier and Stone Island this week. Cartier is converting at 20% with an average of £800, and Stone Island at 16.7% with an average of £750. Both are selling in under half a day. The key issue with designer is authentication and sourcing. If you are not buying from trusted sellers on Facebook Marketplace or established car boot regulars, the risk of counterfeits is real. Be careful, be selective, and when you do find genuine pieces, price them confidently.
One cross-category pattern worth flagging: heritage sportswear is showing up in multiple categories. Umbro in menswear, vintage sportswear labels in womenswear, and even Stone Island sitting at the intersection of sportswear and designer. There is a consistent appetite for clothes with history and cultural weight, which bodes well heading into summer when retro sports aesthetics peak alongside festival season.
For sourcing priorities this week and into the coming weeks, here is how I would allocate effort. Spend roughly 50% of your sourcing time and budget on menswear. The sell speed alone justifies it. Spend 35% on womenswear, concentrating on occasionwear, activewear, and established mid-market brands. Allocate the remaining 15% to designer only if you have trusted sourcing channels and confidence in authentication. Casual designer browsing is unlikely to pay off. Strategic designer sourcing absolutely can.
The summer window is now open. Weddings, festivals, garden parties, and holidays are driving buying decisions. Source accordingly.
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