Ikea announced recently that the furniture company is starting a buyback program in the United States, which may end up being a lasting feature of the store if it is successful. Initially, the program will be made ready at its Philadelphia location in Conshohocken, and then extend to other locations.
The way that the program works is that loyalty consumers will have the capability of selling their lightly used Ikea furniture in return for store credit. The materials will then be prepared for resale again in the "as-is" section for reduced prices. The loyalty program is accessible to any consumer for free of charge. Furniture will be evaluated according to age, condition, and features; however, certain categorizations of items, such as dressers, will not be allowed in the program.
"We are passionate about making sustainable living easy and affordable for the many, and want to be part of a future that's better for both people and the planet," stated Ikea sustainability manager Jennifer Keesson.
Some of the items that will be taken into the program include bookcases, shelf units, small tables, desks, and chairs. The main reasoning for the buyback program is that Ikea would like to remain "circular" and "carbon positive," according to Fast Company.
Ikea has also begun introducing its buyback program in other countries, such as the United Kingdom and Singapore.
The way that the service works is that an individual will fill out a form online if he or she would like to sell an item. On the form, the individual can mark the condition, and then Ikea will provide an approximation of how much it will be able to pay. After this is when the furniture is brought in and the store credit is offered. If the product is not permitted to be sold again, then the consumer will be able to either bring it back home or Ikea will get rid of it in "the most responsible way the local infrastructure will allow," according to Keesson.
Ikea's new buyback program, which enables consumers to bring in used furniture to the store for resale in exchange for store credit, is a feature that will surely attract consumers of all kinds. Although it may take some time to get the program to flourish, time will tell as to whether the store's hope of having it truly last will succeed.
- https://www.ikea.com/us/en/this-is-ikea/newsroom/ikea-us-helps-customers-prolong-the-life-of-their-furniture-with-launch-of-buy-back-and-resell-service-pub5539b110
- https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/30/ikea-pilots-us-furniture-buyback-program-as-it-eyes-national-launch.html
- https://www.businessinsider.com/ikea-buy-back-resell-used-assembled-furniture-us-conshohocken-2021-8
- https://www.fastcompany.com/90669735/ikea-is-launching-a-furniture-buy-back-program
