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Ikea tests online furniture buyback and launches secondhand marketplace in UK

World's largest furniture retailer moves to capture growing pre-owned homewares market

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Sources2 outlets
Ikea is piloting an online version of its furniture buyback service in Spain and Portugal, with a potential rollout to the UK if the trial succeeds. The move comes as the Swedish retailer launches its own secondhand online marketplace in the UK this week, directly competing with platforms like Vinted and eBay.

The buyback service will allow customers to receive vouchers for returning unwanted Ikea furniture, extending a programme already available in physical stores. An online version aims to reach more people.

The new marketplace connects Ikea Family members to buy and sell pre-owned items locally. It launches free of charge, though a buyer protection fee of around 5% will be introduced later. Buyers and sellers currently arrange their own delivery, but Ikea says it is exploring easier options.

Greg Lucas, sustainability manager at Ikea UK and Ireland, said: “The secondhand market is growing and growing. It is now really significant. Secondhand browsing and shopping is now mainstream.”

Ikea expects pre-owned goods to account for 16% of the UK homewares market by next year. The broader secondhand home products market is worth over £4.5 billion in the UK, growing about 6.5% annually. Ikea products already make up about 9% of furniture sold on secondhand marketplaces in the country.

To encourage sellers, Ikea offers pre-filled product descriptions and suggested prices, plus a 15% bonus if payment is taken as an Ikea gift card.

The trend toward resale is accelerating: 63% of UK consumers bought through reselling platforms in 2025, up from 51% in 2024. Competitors like Vinted are also expanding into homewares.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • Ikea's entry into secondhand furniture online could accelerate the shift toward circular consumption in homeware, making pre-owned options more mainstream.
  • The pilot and marketplace give Ikea a dual role as both a seller of new furniture and a platform for used items, potentially altering how consumers value the brand.
  • If successful in the UK, the model may expand to other countries, reshaping the secondhand furniture market globally.

Background

Ikea, the world's largest furniture retailer, has long offered in-store buybacks as part of its sustainability efforts. The resale market for home goods has grown rapidly, driven by environmental concerns and the popularity of platforms like Vinted, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace. Ikea already accounts for a significant share of secondhand furniture sold on these platforms, prompting the company to build its own marketplace to capture more value and customer loyalty.

Key Perspectives

Ikea: Sees a business opportunity in the growing secondhand market while reinforcing its sustainability image. The online buyback and marketplace aim to keep customers within the Ikea ecosystem. Existing resale platforms (Vinted, eBay): Face a new competitor that controls the supply of popular Ikea products and can offer integrated services like pre-filled listings. However, Ikea's platform is currently limited to its own products and members. Consumers: Gain a convenient, trusted channel to buy and sell used Ikea furniture, with potential price advantages from the gift card bonus. Some may still prefer the wider selection of general marketplaces. Critics: May question whether Ikea's moves are genuine circular economy efforts or primarily a strategy to drive repeat sales through gift cards and capture data.

What to Watch

  • How the Spain and Portugal pilot performs, as it will trigger or delay a UK launch.
  • The speed at which Ikea adds delivery options to its marketplace, a key friction point.
  • Whether other large furniture makers adopt similar buyback and resale models.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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