Ikea to trial online buy-back service in Spain and Portugal, eyeing UK launch

Ikea is launching a pilot of an online buy-back platform that will give customers vouchers for unwanted second-hand furniture. The trial will be conducted in Spain and Portugal and must be completed by the end of December, after which a UK rollout is possible. This digital service builds on Ikea’s existing in-store buy-back and its newly introduced second-hand marketplace that lets members buy and sell used Ikea items across Europe.

The marketplace, already live in Spain and Portugal, will be free at launch in the UK, with a future buyer-protection fee of about 5 % of the sale price. Sellers can receive a 15 % premium when paid with an Ikea gift card, and the company will provide pre-filled product details and price suggestions. Ikea sees the growing second-hand market, now worth over £4.5 bn in the UK, as a key growth area.