When it comes to buying home goods, many of us end up with more than we need. Through redecorating, redesigning, or remodeling, homeowners are often left with old furniture that no longer has use. Typically, these unwanted items either stay stored away or end up in landfills. But one major furniture retailer is aiming to stop that. Ikea recently announced that they will start buying back and selling secondhand furniture for the first time ever. Read on to find out more about the new program, and for other recent retail news you might have missed, discover what Walmart Will Finally Start Selling in All 50 States.
Ikea will launch the Buy Back initiative in stores across the United Kingdom and Ireland on Nov. 27, where consumers can return their old Ikea furniture so that the retailer can then resell it secondhand in stores. According to the company, this program is part of their goal to become "a fully circular and climate positive business by 2030."
"With the launch of Buy Back, we are giving a second life to many more Ikea products and creating more easy and affordable solutions to help people live more sustainably," Peter Jelkeby, country retail manager for Ikea in the U.K. and Ireland, said in a statement.
Many items previously bought from Ikea—including sideboards, bookcases, shelving, small tables, dining tables, office drawers, and desks, as well as chairs and stools without upholstery—can all be returned after customers register a request online. The only catch is that they have to be returned fully assembled.
When returning old furniture with the new program, customers will receive Ikea vouchers with no expiration date. However, the value of that voucher will depend on the condition of the item they are selling back. If an item is "as new," with no scratches, customers will get a voucher for 50 percent of the original price. But if it is only "very good," with minor scratches, customers will get 40 percent, and if it is "well used," with several scratches, they will get 30 percent.
"The Ikea vision has always been to create a better everyday life for the many people, which right now means making sustainable living easy and affordable for everyone," Hege Sæbjørnsen, country sustainability manager for Ikea in the U.K. and Ireland, said in a statement. "Currently, 45 percent of total global carbon emissions come from the way the world produces and uses everyday products, so Buy Back represents an opportunity to address unsustainable consumption and its impact on climate change."
Ikea isn't the only store changing the game, however. Retail is constantly evolving to keep up with an increasingly competitive market. To see what other changes companies have made recently, keep reading. And for retail items you won't be able to find soon, Apple Is No Longer Selling This Beloved Product.
1 Walmart is changing its store design.
Walmart announced on Sept. 30 that the company will redesign its stores to adopt a "new look and feel focusing on a digitally enabled shopping experience," Walmart executive vice president and chief customer officer Janey Whiteside said in a statement. The design will be rolled out to 200 Walmart Supercenter locations by the end of the fiscal year, and will be hitting 1,000 stores by the end of the next year. And for more Walmart news, Walmart Has an Exciting New Surprise for These 6 States.
2 Target is bringing back a famous brand for a holiday collaboration.
Target recently announced that it was teaming up with famous luxury toy retailer FAO Schwarz to release an exclusive 70-piece toy collection, which will be available at all Target stores nationwide, on Target's online store, and at the FAO Schwarz flagship store in New York City on Oct. 25. This collaboration may help bring FAO Schwarz back to its former glory, as the company went bankrupt and closed its doors in 2015, before being resurrected in 2018. And for more Target news, Target Just Announced Huge Sales Starting on This Exact Date.
3 Dollar General is opening up a new business.
Known for being a beloved discount chain, Dollar General recently announced that it was expanding its business model to help consumers save in other areas. The company will be opening a new offshoot store called Popshelf, which will sell home cleaning supplies, health and beauty products, home décor, seasonal items, and party and entertaining supplies, among other offerings. And for more on this development, read all about Dollar General's New Shopping Experience.
4 Amazon is creating a new way that customers can pay for their items.
A simple wave will also allow customers to purchase items at Amazon's brick-and-mortar Amazon Go stores. Using revolutionary biometric technology, the new Amazon One device is giving customers a quick, contactless way to shop in-person. The machine only requires that you insert your credit card one time and then hover your hand over the sensor to register. After that, all you need to do is wave your hand over a scanner when you visit an Amazon Go store to make your purchase. And for more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter.
Kali Coleman Kali Coleman is a Senior Editor at Best Life. Her primary focus is covering news, where she often keeps readers informed on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and up-to-date on the latest retail closures.Read moreFiled UnderHome • News • ShoppingRead This NextApple Is No Longer Selling This Beloved Product
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