Ikea is testing a new online second-hand market for used furniture

“This has been a dream in the making for some time,” Jesper Brodin, chief executive of Ingka, the main operator of Ikea stores, told the FT. “We’re in a place in Ikea where we can do more advanced and interesting things. There’s an incredible confidence in the company that’s going digital.”

Sellers list their second-hand Ikea products on the marketplace with their own photos and list price, and the site’s AI-enabled database automatically fills in details such as dimensions and promotional images into the listing, the FT reported.

“Through this marketplace, we want to enable people to connect and support each other to fulfill their home needs and dreams and access an even more affordable IKEA range,” an Ikea spokesperson told Business Insider .

The spokesperson added: “The global second-hand furniture market is growing rapidly, with an expected annual growth rate of 6.4% in 2024. Already today, 10% of the second-hand furniture market is made up of IKEA products. With the platform we are testing in Madrid and Oslo, we have possibilities to simplify and improve the experience for both the seller and the buyer.”

For now, marketplace listings are free, but Brodin told the station that Ikea may charge a “symbolic” fee in the future. Sellers who list second-hand items on the marketplace can receive cash payments or an Ikea voucher with a 15% bonus, per FT.

“We will check the whole area, including from an economic point of view,” said Brodin. “If a lot of people are using the offer to get a discount at Ikea, it’s a good way to re-engage customers. I am very curious. I think it makes good business sense.”