Pre-owned, used, or previously-owned items are all references to the concept I'm paraphrasing here. - Ikea is experimenting with an online platform for buying and selling used items.
Ikea is experimenting with an online marketplace for pre-owned items. As of Monday, the platform "Ikea Used" allows customers in Madrid and Oslo to directly purchase and sell second-hand products from Ikea. This trial period in Spain and Norway's main cities will last until the end of the year, according to Ikea CEO Jesper Brodin in the Financial Times (FT).
If the trial is successful, "Ikea Used" is expected to go global, competing with platforms such as eBay or Craigslist. The CEO of Ingka, Ikea's primary store operator, described the project as a long-cherished dream in the FT. "We've finally reached a point where we can do more innovative and exciting things," he added. There's a strong belief in Ikea's digital advancement.
The durability of Ikea items is being enhanced. Ikea has been selling used furniture in its stores for a while, which it then resells. The company is now focusing on digitalization to promote sustainability. The aim is to decrease waste production and increase the longevity of its own products, emphasized Brodin.
On "Ikea Used," sellers can upload their own photos and set a price for their item. Ikea provides additional details (such as dimensions, new price, or promotional images). The item must be picked up directly from the seller. For instance, a used three-seater Kivik sofa was available for purchase in Madrid on Monday for 332 euros, which is 217 euros less than the new price in Spain (549 euros). At launch, there were over 450 items available for sale on the new platform in Madrid.
The retail trade of pre-owned Ikea items is now being facilitated on the platform "Ikea Used." If the trial in Madrid and Oslo proves successful, this retail trade could potentially expand globally, challenging competitors like eBay and Craigslist.
