Erik Hoyer, CEO and owner of Glendale-based EJ’s Auction & Appraisal, said 2026 will likely be a boom year for the secondary market as more consumers turn to auction houses, thrift stores, consignment shops, and online platforms to search for quality pre-owned items at a lower price.

“Tariffs, inflation and other factors have resulted in sharp price increases of new products. We’re expecting to see more bidders seeking a better value for items, such as cars, watches, toys, electronics, furniture and other household goods,” Hoyer stated in a press release.

Consumer behavior and sentiment is also changing. Here’s what Hoyer predicts for 2026:

• Gen Z and millennials are turned off by mass-produced items and are seeking original, authentic pieces, particularly vintage items, such as vinyl records, luxury handbags, watches, trendy trinkets, Art Deco items and retro furniture and electronics.
• Adults 18 and older – even in their 40s and 50s – are known in the auction industry as “Kidults” because they are making their purchasing decisions based on nostalgia. Toys are of a particular interest to them, such as Lego bricks, stuffed animals, race cars, Star Wars figurines and trading cards.
• The minimalism phase is ‘out.’ Warm and Cozy or Opulence are ‘in.’ In 2026, buyers will be seeking items that either have a warm and cozy vibe, such as well-worn wooden tables, layered textures and folk art, or they will be seeking opulence. Those buyers will spend money on gilded furniture and mirrors with luscious, shiny gold or metallic finishes, fine art and glamorous jewelry.
• Asian art and antiques are becoming popular again as a new generation of collectors seek exquisite craftsmanship, intricate designs, and the use of unique materials like jade and porcelain.
• Brown furniture is cool again, particularly pieces made with dark, rich woods, such as mahogany and walnut. 
• Mid-century modern furniture, light fixtures, and other design styles from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s will continue to be very popular.
• Vintage toys are in demand, particularly Transformers, Nerf, Hot Wheels, Barbie and Lego.
• Cards are highly collectible, including old Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, Yu Gi Oh, and sports cards.

Bidding is open soon for EJ’s Auction & Appraisal’s Jan. 3 New Year Auction. The full-service auction house holds “he best back for this annual online auction, which features fine art, jewelry, antiques and high-end collectibles. 

EJ’s conducts online auctions at 10 a.m. every Saturday and is open for preview from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and Saturday morning at 9 a.m. prior to each weekly auction.

Interested bidders can preview items at the auction house, 5880 W. Bell Road, in Glendale, or request to see condition reports. For details, visit www.ejsauction.com  or call 623-878-2003.