Ikea to pilot online buyback service for secondhand furniture

Ikea is piloting an online buyback service for secondhand furniture in Spain and Portugal this year. If successful, the retailer plans to launch the service in the UK. The online version of the service will extend it to a wider audience, as pre-owned goods are predicted to account for 16% of the UK homewares market by next year.

The online marketplace, already available in other countries including Spain and Portugal, will enable shoppers with an Ikea membership to connect with each other to buy and sell pre-owned items locally. Initially, the UK service will be free, but a "buyer protection fee" of around 5% of an item's price will be introduced later.

Ikea's sustainability manager, Greg Lucas, emphasized that the secondhand market is growing rapidly and is now mainstream. The way people furnish their homes has changed, with more customers considering pre-owned furniture alongside new items. The UK secondhand home products market is worth over £4.5bn and is growing at approximately 6.5% annually. Ikea's products make up about 9% of furniture sold on secondhand marketplaces in the UK.

To facilitate sellers, Ikea provides pre-filled product descriptions and price suggestions. Sellers also receive 15% extra on the item's price if they choose to be paid in the form of an Ikea gift card. This move aligns with a broader trend in retail, where consumers of all ages are increasingly open to buying secondhand items. In 2025, 63% of UK consumers purchased products through reselling platforms, up from 51% in 2024.

This trend has benefited platforms such as Vinted, Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, and specialized sites like Vinterior. The US secondhand site eBay recently acquired fashion seller Depop for $1.2bn. In the global fashion market, preloved items now make up about 10% of sales. Competitors in the secondhand market include Currys, AO, and other electrical goods retailers that sell pre-owned items.