An Ikea store at the SouthBay Pavilion Mall in Carson, California, USA, on Wednesday, April 21, 2021.
Bing Guan | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Ikea is piloting a furniture repurchase and resale program in the United States as it aims to turn the service into a permanent device in its stores across the country.
The pilot program will be available at its store in the suburbs of Conshohocken, Philadelphia, Monday through September 19th. Eventually, it will launch into additional markets.
Ikea has launched repurchase programs in other countries, including the UK, as it works to make its business more sustainable and “climate-positive” by 2030.
Loyal customers will be able to sell their soft-used Ikea furniture in exchange for a credit in the store. Items will be available for resale in the “as is” section of the retailer at discounted prices. Any customer can join the loyalty program for free.
Fully assembled furniture will be evaluated based on its condition, age, and functionality, but some product categories, such as shop windows, will not be eligible for the program.
“We are passionate about making sustainable living easy and affordable for many and we want to be part of a better future for people and for the planet,” said Jennifer Keesson, Sustainability Manager at Ikea.
There are more retailers responding to customers ’demand for more sustainable products, which are more popular among the younger generations. In recent months, Gap, Macy’s, JC Penney and J.Crew’s Madewell brand have partnered with the ThredUp resale platform to test the second-hand market.
Piper Sandler’s Spring 2021 Gen Z survey found that 47% of teens have bought second-hand items and 55% have sold second-hand items. The survey also showed that teens spend 8% of their time shopping on second-hand purchases. The half-yearly survey collected the results of more than 7,000 adolescents with an average age of 16.1 years.
Although much of the demand has been for second-hand clothes, Ikea hopes that this behavior can be transferred to furniture.