Ikea is betting on the occasion

A coffee table at 27 euros, lamps for less than 30 euros or even a sofa at 129 euros: dThese prices can seem surprisingly low for a furniture store. But in this Ikea store, we bet on the second hand. In exchange for a voucher, customers are invited to bring back their old furniture from the brand. They are then cleaned and resold 30 to 50% cheaper than their original prices. Here, customers are above all looking for the right deal. But the youngest see another advantage: “it’s important for the planet”, explains a young girl.

Recycling objects, giving them a second life, several clothing or DIY stores are already doing it. For furniture, Ikea is the first to launch. The brand tested this concept in Sweden, the brand’s country of origin, where the second-hand market is much more developed than in France. In a family encountered, almost all of the furniture is second-hand. Buying vintage is a militant act for Johanna Lundberg, photographer and mother: “I want our daughter to know that we have to take care of what we have and our planet.” To meet demand, Ikea chose the town of Eskilstuna, located an hour and a half drive from the capital, to set up its first store. In total, 200 m2 of tables, chairs and other furniture. Collected free of charge, they are sold at half price. Beyond profitability, the company claims a committed approach and claims to want to reduce its climate footprint by 70% in ten years. One way for the brand to restore its image, while its model is accused of encouraging large-scale deforestation.