Ikea should start renting out furniture – on test projects with business

Old furniture from Ikea to get a new home. It is the idea behind the möbeljättens latest project to become more circular. Testing that started in Switzerland is now starting in Sweden. A dozen or so smaller companies will rent second-hand furniture, which has between six and ten years old.

Swedish traders work all the more sustainable according to a report from the Swedish trade 2018. The reason is among other things driven consumers. The goal of the industry is to have achieved all 17 goals for sustainability that the united nations has set up until 2030.

Ikea has set on to a circular business model. The goal is that all material should be in the loop. In the new project, the old furniture get a new life.

rather than toss the old köksstolarna will furniture giant to collect them to then rent out. Exactly how long customers may rent is not decided yet. But Miki Tabakovic, sales manager for Ikea Business, does not exclude that the goods can be rented out for several years if so desired.

"We also see if we can rent the already rented furniture, in other words, the goods do not need to be sent back to us," he says.

In uthyrningssortimentet will several pieces of furniture from the everyday life to be found. Above all, there is the traditional enterprise products, including the desk lamp, chair or konferensstol.

– However, the traditional kontorslandskapen also begins to disappear, and instead becomes activity-based, in addition to a desk and chair, it is many times the big kitchen or furniture to pentrys that are in demand, " says Miki Tabakovic.

therefore, be the case in the test project will. Regardless of how the range look is a large focus on the circular. For example, to try to repair the products become damaged in transit.

To rent items, rather than throw away and buy new, have long since been popular in the fashion industry. Among other things, it is possible to rent ski clothes or participate in klädbytardagar. The trend which in the past has been associated with the fashion industry spreads to other industries now. The so-called delningsekonomin is here to stay, according to Michael Cronholm, chief operating officer at the firm, HUI research.

"It is absolutely a trend in most sectors, in part because there is a sustainability aspect but also to many think it is fun to rent or change the subject," he says.

is to keep the business profitable, because used objects are usually cheaper and particularly when they are rented out.

– How to prices is important to keep in mind, people are not as willing to pay as much for a used product as brand new, on the other hand, you can earn money by renting the object to several people, " says Michael Cronholm.

another aspect of the rental of the furniture is Ikea's do when the furniture gets dirty. This issue is probably more up to date on the retail rental of furniture, which the future determines.

"We want to make it possible to rent furniture for both private customers and for more companies, but first we need to see how the test goes before we decide anything," says Miki Tabakovic.

The next autumn, the project will be evaluated.

Read more: Möbeljättens goal: All products in a climate-2030

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