General
Ikea has taken a minority stake in Optoro, an American start-up that develops software aimed at making returns more efficient. The investment fits in with the objective of the Swedish retailer to be a circular company by 2030.
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Australians are buying fewer Christmas gifts this year, and opting for more useful and inclusive gifts. Here, too, 'more sustainable' gifts for the end of the year period are a growing trend, because things have reached their peak.
Furniture
Ikea has had to admit a 10 % profit drop this year, due to higher prices of raw materials and investments in new concepts. Nevertheless, the Swedish retail chain wants to continue to maintain a high level of innovation in the future.
Following Nike's most recent example, Ikea too has withdrawn from Amazon's marketplace. Some analysts see this as a very smart decision, others point to its dangers...
Chaotic scenes took place in all of Ikea's Belgian stores this morning. This was prompted by the launch of the new Markerad collection, designed by Virgil Abloh, the artistic director for Louis Vuitton.
Swedish furniture giant Ikea is looking to acquire shopping centres in the United Kingdom as part of an expansion plan. This way, the retail chain wants to benefit from lower retail property prices.
Inter Ikea (owner of the Ikea brand and manager of the franchise activities) may still have to pay millions of euros in taxes the company is said to have avoided, if two deals with the Dutch tax authorities are revoked.
Last financial year, Ikea has managed to increase its retail turnover considerably. The group's online business is growing fast, while the number of visitors to its stores remains at the same level. The retailer is opening even more small shops and planning studios in large cities.
Ingka Group, the owner of the majority of Ikea stores, says it will produce as much renewable energy as it consumes by the end of this year and achieve its own target a year earlier than originally planned.
The Ikea store in Eindhoven is testing the consequences of not letting people pay in cash any more. If successful, the test may be expanded to other Dutch stores too.
Ikea is starting a lease in a shopping centre for the first time, in the Indian city of Mumbai. Even for the Swedes, the 'big box' era seems to end as the focus shifts to getting close to city centre residents.
Ikea has turned its latest catalogue into an audio-book and put it on Spotify. The goal of that campaign is to draw attention to the digital version of the catalogue.
Ikea wants to invest heavily in its Chinese store network. The fact that many Chinese like to visit the stores to take a nap, is alright for the Swedes.
A global first for the Netherlands: the Ikea store in Groningen is the first where the chain totally redesigns its lay-out and arranges items by price. The store also aims at selling 'full experiences', rather than single pieces of furniture.
Ikea has launced an app with which customers can place products in their own house using augmented reality, then buy the items online. This means customers do not need to go to suburban physical stores as often, reducing the stress on environment and mobility.
Ikea is looking to sell its products in China through existing sales platforms. Conversely, the chain will be developing its own digital marketplace for Europe.
