UK hooked on hoarding according to new poll

Adult Britons spend over £2.5 billion a year on items they do not use

Research by Netcycler, a new internet service that allows to you swap and give away unwanted items for things you really want, reveals the UK is a nation of hoarders, with a huge 93% of people stashing items that they don’t use at home.

 Overall, adult Britons spend over £2.5 billion a year on items they do not use. In the past year, 30% of people – or over 14 million nationally – spent over £50 each on unwanted items that ultimately end up gathering dust in cupboards, spare rooms and attics. 

The most hoarded item in our closets is clothing, with 47% of Britons admitting to owning garments they haven’t worn or have hardly used at all over the last 12 months. Unwanted CDs come a close second with 45% of Britons hoarding these, followed by unwanted mobile phones (40% of Britons).  According to the research, our love affair with ‘stuff’ stems from not knowing what to do with it (49% of the UK population). However, over half (53%) of those polled would use an online swap service if it saved them money.  

Netcycler, a new, free internet swap service which launches in the UK today is helping those who love shopping and hate waste. Netcycler urges Brits to sign up at www.netcycler.co.uk and get involved with swapping that feels like shopping. By creating matches between offers and wishes, all you need to do is list what you want to get rid of and what you would like in return.

The service can also automatically form trade rings between three or more people, so that each swapper both gives and receives something, significantly increasing the possibility of getting something you really, really want. Netcycler’s co-founder, Jussi Koskinen said:  “Swapping with Netcycler is a great way to get rid of all those unwanted items whilst at the same time finding things which actually have a place in your life. Whether you want to trade a pair of shoes for a coffee machine, or an electronic drill for a designer suit, there really is something for everyone. And whilst functional, it is environmentally friendly and lots of fun.” 

To start swapping visit www.netcycler.co.uk.