A SouthBay Pavilion store for Ikea was opened in Carson, California, USA, Wednesday, April 21st, 2021.
Ikea will be piloting a furniture buyback program in the United States. It hopes to make this service permanent at its stores across the country.
From Monday to Sept. 19, the pilot program will be offered at Conshohocken's store in Philadelphia. The program will eventually be expanded to other markets.
Ikea launched repurchase programmes in other countries, including the United Kingdom, as part of its efforts to make its business more sustainable and "climate-positive" by 2030.
Customers who are loyal customers can sell their Ikea furniture to receive store credit. These items will be available at discounted prices in the "as is" section of the retailer. The loyalty program is open to all customers.
Fully-assembled furniture is subject to evaluation based on its age, condition, and functionality. However, some products, such as dressers, will not be eligible.
Jennifer Keesson, Ikea sustainability manager, stated that "We are passionately about making sustainable living affordable and easy for the many" and she wants to play a part in a better future for everyone.
Retailers are responding to customers' demand for sustainable products that are more appealing to younger generations. To test the secondhand market, Gap has partnered with ThredUp in recent months.
Piper Sandler's Spring 2021 Gen Z Survey found that 47% of teens had purchased secondhand goods, and 55% had sold secondhand. According to the survey, teens spend 8% of their shopping time on secondhand items. More than 7,000 teens were surveyed in the semi-annual survey. The average age was 16.1.
Ikea believes that secondhand clothing will continue to be in demand.
