Swedish furniture retailer Ikea has launched an online marketplace for its second-hand furniture that allows customers to sell directly to each other.
"We are testing a digital marketplace for second-hand furniture in Oslo and Madrid to help customers connect, buy and sell used Ikea items with each other," said Tolga Onchu, Head of Retail at Ikea Retail.
Called Ikea Preowned, the market opened for a trial period this summer and will run until December, AFP reported.
"After December, we will evaluate and decide on the next steps," Onchu said.
The move is the company's latest initiative to address concerns that its business model leads to overconsumption and waste.
Ikea has previously unveiled plans to rent, repair and recycle furniture, aiming to become a circular business by 2030.
But unlike before, when Ikea bought its customers' used furniture, repaired it and resold it in its stores, now customers can sell directly to each other on the platform.
Ikea said the global second-hand furniture market is growing rapidly, with a projected annual growth rate of 6.4% in 2024.
Ikea products make up 10% of the second-hand home furniture market.
The move is also part of a change in the company's strategy, which used to only offer large warehouses outside cities, and is now betting on smaller sites in city centers and online shopping. | BGNES
