dubizzle study shows SR370bn unused household items

dubizzle, a major classifieds website in the MENA, has concluded Kingdomwide research, described as the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia, supported by a study conducted by global market research firm YouGov.
The results of the research, which focuses on unused household items across the Kingdom, estimate that there is a total of 900 million unused household items in Saudi Arabia valued at a total of SR370 billion.
By combining the survey figures from YouGov with data collected from dubizzle directly about the average price of hundreds of thousands of items, it was possible to estimate the worth of these unwanted items at SR370 billion. These items could be sold from consumer to consumer to create an injection of cash into the local economy.
“Saudi Arabia’s hidden treasures are not buried beneath the desert sand; they are inside everyone’s home. Internet users in the Kingdom are sitting on heaps of cash, which they are not aware of,” said Abdullah Al-Ghadouni – GM for Saudi Arabia at dubizzle.
The research indicates an estimated 60 million unused mobile phones, which is 5 x times higher than mobile phones in the UAE. The total value of these unused mobile phones worth SR56 billion - double the cost of Saudi railway project.
The research shows that there are over 288 million unwanted books. Fashion Saudis have around 222 million unused fashion items in their household, which are capable of clothing all the poor people globally.
“A basic realignment of consumer goods can build a secondhand economy. The research revealed that every Saudi household has around 18 unwanted books, 13 unused cloths and 4 unloved toys. If these items were reshuffled in the community and move to other homes, they can make a real impact in their local community,” Al-Ghadouni added.