When politicians from across Norway gathered with the business community during last week’s special event Arendalsuka, Cathrine Laksfoss, EVP for recommerce at Vend Marketplaces (formerly Schibsted Marketplaces), made a strong appeal to lawmakers: stop talking and start acting to strengthen reuse and recommerce against global platforms such as Temu and Shein, which she called direct competitors.
“The competition is mostly about price — between the reuse of quality products and new, low-quality items from China,” she said.
Speaking at a seminar, Laksfoss called for more support for the recommerce sector.
“It is time for politicians to act, not just talk without delivering concrete results,” she said.
Laksfoss emphasized that she was speaking not only for Vend and Finn, but for all Norway-based recommerce players. She highlighted the environmental and economic benefits of reuse, noting that quality items can often be used two or even three times.
According to her, competitors like Temu and Shein sell products at prices so low — often with free international shipping — that they undercut Norwegian reuse markets.
“We have been too nice in recommerce, while fast-fashion imports increase every day,” said the EVP. “At the same time, the market has gone digital. This has expanded supply nationwide but also made freight a bigger share of the total price. If you buy something for NOK200 [around $19], paying NOK60 in freight becomes significant.”
She added that reducing shipping costs directly boosts recommerce. Campaigns offering consumers a 50% discount on shipping have increased sales turnover by 40% on Finn, noted the EVP.
Laksfoss urged politicians to deliver concrete measures:
Remove VAT on shipping for reused goods. This, she argued, could be done quickly and would make recommerce more competitive.
Ensure fair competition with global platforms. According to her, fast-fashion giants like Temu and Shein often ignore competition and consumer protection laws, bear no responsibility for waste, and avoid the regulatory obligations that local businesses must follow.
Recommerce, she stressed, has enormous growth potential but needs government support. At Finn alone, there were 3 million recommerce transactions last year, saving an estimated 163,000 tons of CO₂. The total value of reused goods sold on Finn reached NOK21 billion ($2 billion).
“These numbers could be much higher,” Laksfoss concluded, expressing hope that some politicians left Arendalsuka ready to push for VAT reform — on behalf of Vend, Finn, Tise, and the wider Norwegian recommerce sector.
