IKEA Launches Preowned Resale Platform for Pre-Loved Furniture | IKEA Preowned

FDT Bureau

Swedish furniture giant IKEA has reportedly launched a new peer-to-peer resale platform called IKEA Preowned, reflecting its commitment to becoming a circular business by 2030. This secondhand marketplace, designed to facilitate the buying and selling of pre-loved IKEA products, is currently being tested in Madrid and Oslo through the end of the year. If successful, IKEA plans to expand the platform globally. Know more about it on FURNITURE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (FDT).

IKEA Preowned is part of IKEA’s broader initiative to minimize resource use and transition towards a circular economy. The company aims to extend the life of its furniture by keeping it out of landfills and finding new homes for it. Sellers can list their items by uploading photos and setting prices, while IKEA’s AI technology will retrieve accurate measurements from its database and support images from its archives.

Reportedly, buyers will pick up their items directly from sellers, who can choose to be paid directly or receive an IKEA voucher with an additional 15 per cent credit. The platform is intended to compete with existing resale sites like eBay, Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace, where IKEA products already constitute a significant portion of the inventory, according to Tolga Oncu, retail operations manager for IKEA franchisee Ingka Group.

Currently, the platform allows users to buy and sell items free of charge, although IKEA may introduce a nominal fee in the future. The trial will also include a care and repair section, offering spare parts, removable covers and wood stains to refresh furniture. This initiative complements IKEA’s existing buy-back program and aligns with the company’s strategy to enhance its online presence, alongside closing larger, out-of-town stores and opening smaller, city-center locations, including innovative stores in Vienna, Copenhagen and soon London.