IKEA Joins Secondhand Boom: New Online Marketplace & Buyback Service!

IKEA is set to significantly expand its presence in the burgeoning secondhand market with the pilot launch of an online buy-back service and a new dedicated online marketplace for pre-loved items. The online buy-back service, which will offer vouchers for unwanted secondhand furniture, is slated for testing in Spain and Portugal before the end of December.

If successful, this service will be rolled out to the UK, complementing IKEA's existing in-store buy-back scheme and making it accessible to a much wider audience. In parallel, IKEA is launching an online secondhand marketplace in the UK this week, directly challenging platforms like Vinted and eBay.

This platform is already operational in other countries, including Spain and Portugal, featuring popular items like the Kallax shelving system and Malm chest of drawers. The new marketplace will allow members of IKEA's loyalty scheme to connect directly with each other to buy and sell pre-owned IKEA items locally.

Initially, the UK service will be free, though a "buyer protection fee" of around 5% of an item's price is expected to be introduced later. Buyers and sellers will arrange collection or delivery directly, with IKEA exploring ways to streamline delivery options in the future.

This strategic shift comes as the secondhand market experiences significant growth.

Greg Lucas, sustainability manager at IKEA's UK & Irish division, highlighted that "Secondhand browsing and shopping is now mainstream." He noted a change in how people furnish their homes, with more customers actively seeking pre-owned furniture alongside new items to create personalized spaces. The UK secondhand home products market is currently valued at over £4.5 billion and is expanding at approximately 6.5% annually.

IKEA projects that pre-owned goods could capture 16% of the UK homewares market by next year, with its products already accounting for about 9% of furniture sold on secondhand marketplaces in the UK. To facilitate the selling process, IKEA is assisting sellers by providing pre-filled product descriptions and price suggestions. Additionally, sellers can receive an extra 15% on the item's price if they opt for an IKEA gift card as payment.

This initiative reflects a broader retail revolution, where consumers of all ages are increasingly open to considering secondhand items. Data shows that 63% of UK consumers purchased products through reselling platforms in 2025, a notable increase from 51% in 2024.

The move also positions IKEA within a highly competitive secondhand landscape.

The trend has significantly boosted sales for platforms like Vinted, which is expanding beyond clothing into homewares and electronics, as well as Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree. Even electrical retailers like Currys and AO are selling pre-owned items, with AO having acquired MusicMagpie and Camera Jungle to bolster its secondhand offerings.

This demonstrates a clear industry-wide embrace of the circular economy, with IKEA now taking a prominent role. #IKEASustainability #SecondhandFurniture #CircularEconomy