IKEA Debuts Secondhand Marketplace To Stack Up Against eBay & Craigslist

Photo 28577186 © Lightpoet | Dreamstime.com

IKEA has assembled a new platform for eco-conscious, secondhand shoppers. IKEA Preowned is the Swedish furniture giant’s peer-to-peer marketplace that’ll give old BILLY bookcases and more a new lease on life.

This fresh platform allows customers to buy and sell used IKEA furniture directly to each other, putting IKEA in direct competition with established online marketplaces like eBay, Craigslist, and Gumtree. Currently, IKEA Preowned is being tested in Madrid and Oslo, with plans to expand globally by year’s end.

The services uses artificial intelligence to streamline the selling process. Users can upload product details, images, and prices, while the system provides promotional images and measurements. Buyers collect items directly from sellers, who can choose between cash or an IKEA voucher with a 15% bonus. By facilitating the resale of its products, the brand is not only extending the life of its furniture but also staying connected with customers long after their initial purchase.

The marketplace currently offers a diverse range of items. Shoppers can find everything from sofas priced up to €600 (US$670) to toilet roll holders for just €4 (US$4.47). While listings are free for now, IKEA may introduce a small fee in the future.

Jesper Brodin, CEO of Ingka Group, which operates most IKEA stores, frames this initiative as part of the company’s broader transformation. In recent years, IKEA has been busy renovating its business model, adding online sales, city-center stores, and services like furniture assembly to its repertoire. The new marketplace aligns with the company’s ambitious goal to become “circular and climate positive” by 2030.

[via Ars Technica, Benzinga, BBC, cover photo 28577186 © Lightpoet | Dreamstime.com]