Ingka Group, the biggest IKEA retailer, has started testing IKEA Preowned, a digital second-hand marketplace to help customers connect, buy, and sell preowned IKEA items between each other.

As it focuses on creating a better IKEA that is more affordable, accessible and sustainable, Ingka Group is constantly testing and trying new solutions. With the new second-hand marketplace that opened for a trial period this summer in Madrid and Oslo, Ingka Group wants to enable people to connect and support each other to fulfil the needs and dreams of a home and have access to an even more affordable IKEA range.

“The test will go on until December and during this time, we will be continuously interacting with users to understand customers’ behaviors and interests towards a digital second-hand marketplace, as well as what it would mean for us from a business perspective,” says Jesper Brodin, Ingka Group CEO. “After December we will evaluate and decide on the next steps.”

The pilot platform is free of charge, and it lets users receive recommended prices, professional photos, and precise measurements. Each listing also includes detailed product descriptions, assembly guides, and care instructions. So far, most listed products are within segments such as living room, children, and storage.

“The global second-hand furniture market is growing rapidly, with a projected annual growth rate of 6.4% in 2024. Already today, 10% of the second-hand home furnishing market is made up by IKEA products. With this platform we see possibilities to simplify and enhance experience for both sellers and buyers,” adds Brodin.

This initiative is part of the company’s efforts of enabling customers to prolong the life of our products by giving them a second life, which includes services like buying back products, providing assembly parts, and investing in recycling initiatives like RetourMatras, which recycles mattresses into materials for new mattresses.