IKEA is launching its secondhand marketplace in the United Kingdom

IKEA will launch its own online marketplace for secondhand furniture in the United Kingdom later this year. The furniture giant hopes this will allow it to gain a stronger foothold in the growing market for secondhand goods while also extending the lifespan of its furniture.

Country by country

The UK launch follows trials of similar marketplaces in Spain and Norway. Since April, IKEA also operates its own secondhand marketplace in Belgium and Luxembourg, where IKEA Family members can sell used items directly to other consumers in their neighborhood.

In the United Kingdom, secondhand sales currently take place through physical secondhand corners in some stores, just as is still the case in the Netherlands, among other countries. IKEA therefore appears to be rolling out the online platform in phases, country by country.

A slice of the pie

“Our goal is to make passing on beloved IKEA products as seamless as possible,” a spokesperson told The Guardian. “We’re creating a trustworthy and vibrant space where our IKEA Family members can trade directly with one another quickly and easily.”

In doing so, IKEA is also responding to the rapid growth of secondhand consumption. Vinted, which started with used clothing, has since expanded to include home goods and electronics, among other items. Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and specialized platforms are also competing for a larger share of the market.