Core77

Sign In / Join Now

Topics
- Product Design
- Process
- Technology
- Lifestyle
- Business
- News
- Furniture
- Tools
- Transportation
- Education
- Impact
- Reference
- Video
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Subscribe
Features
Awards;
Careers;
- Careers
- Design Jobs;
- Talent Search;
- Design Salaries;
Firms
- Firms
- Search Firms;
- Firm Projects
Forums;
- Forums
- General Discussion;
- Students & Schools;
- Design Employment;
- Sketching;
- Software & Technology;
- All Forums;
More...
- About Us
- Contact Us
- Advertise
- About
- Terms of Use
Follow Us
- )
- m
- Y
- '
- S
Search
e

Furniture Design

IKEA Will Begin Testing a Furniture Subscription Model

Perhaps an upgrade to raiding the 'as is' section

By Emily Engle - February 5

Remember Kamarq from last year's NYCxDesign? If not, here's a dramatic refresher. Besides all the sneaky copying, Kamarq was onto something with their furniture subscription service geared towards city-dwelling millennials...

Now, less than a year later, IKEA will be adopting a similar furniture leasing program as they aim to move towards a circular business model that reuses and prolongs the lifespan of their furniture. Eventually, the company hopes to offer scalable subscription services, meaning once you return a piece at the end of its leasing/subscription period, you will have the option to swap that item out for a new piece.

Enter a caption (optional)

While we love IKEA all the way down to their (veggie) meatballs, we're concerned that the quality of their furniture may not be able to last through multiple lifecycles. To this point, IKEA has noted that they plan on taking returned furniture from the program and refurbishing it before putting it in the hands of the next subscriber. Think of this as a slight upgrade to raiding IKEA's 'as is' section because instead, you could just get something already fixed, presumably at a low cost since it has been through some s*** in other homes. The cost of this service hasn't been announced, but we'll update this article when the time comes.

Adopting a subscription model geared towards city dwellers who frequently move apartments brings about new concerns for IKEA, including more returns, more repairs and more foot traffic. We can confirm that returning things to IKEA in New York City without a car is nearly impossible. To adapt to this, IKEA will be rolling out a mini store in Manhattan this year in hopes of managing some of the added chaos. They're also considering a spare parts business so people can buy out-of-stock parts and hardware. So, a lot of changes are underway for our beloved IKEA. We'll see how it goes.

What're your thoughts on subscription furniture services? Is this another trend like subscription deodorant or a smart long-term business move for IKEA?

Source: CNBC

Emily Engle

Emily is Core77's Editor, footwear enthusiast and resident stress baker.

3 Comments

Chris Ference

a month ago

Z

1Z

Reply

This is an interesting concept, but i have found it impossible to set up and take down Ikea furniture more than twice before something breaks. Specifically their desks. Also would items like couches be rented? Wouldn't want to find whats in between a strangers cushions.

Great article!

!Report as spam
- Emily Engle
  
  Chris Ference
  
  a month ago
  
  Z
  
  Z
  
  Reply
  
  Thanks, Chris! And agreed, the sofa situation could get real weird, real quick...
  
  !Report as spam
Alex Netz

26 days ago

Z

Z

Reply

Well written, good article.
My take on ikea’s plans is that they are trying to reduce the ubiquity of their stuff on craigslist. One readon that ikea has a reputation for disposable or temporary furniture is that it is so available in the used market. By giving an incentive to return it to the store AKA a store credit, while pushing the idea that their stuff can live through many relocations they might be trying to improve their connotation. Also, might have the “diamonds are forever” effect, a-la de beers.
Extra points for being so knowledgeable on their catalog!

!Report as spam

Core77's Design Directory

Core77's Design Directory

View all Design Firms »
Hot On Coroflot

FILA Athletics Tobin Dorn

Vector Owls Andrew Soper
Recent Posts
Design Jobs
- Post A Job
- View All Jobs
Join over 240,000 designers who stay up-to-date with the Core77 newsletter.
Subscribe
Test it out; it only takes a single click to unsubscribe

K

{

Welcome

jSign In with Core77 Account

Username
Password Forgot password?
Keep me signed in

Cancel

Don't have an account? Join Now

K

{

Welcome

Create a Core77 Account

jJoin Now with Email

Email Not Public
Username
Password
Confirm Password
Cancel

Already have an account? Sign In

By creating a Core77 account you confirm that you accept the Terms of Use

K

Reset Password

Please enter your email and we will send an email to reset your password.

Advertise Here

IKEA Will Begin Testing a Furniture Subscription Model

Perhaps an upgrade to raiding the 'as is' section

By Emily Engle - February 5

3 Comments

Currently on view at Stockholm Furniture Fair, Wolfond's designs continue their playful nature outside of Good Thing's umbrella

By Emily Engle - February 4

You can flat-pack most furniture, but you can't flat-pack the cushions. Unless you're French...

By Rain Noe - January 28

The last time we saw equestrian-inspired seating, it was chiropractor David James France's Workhorse...

By Rain Noe - January 24

You know that joy you feel when you see a piece of furniture of...

By Rain Noe - January 21

Acura VP Jon Ikeda, one of the rare executives that can do renderings, breaks it down

By Rain Noe - March 18 New

About the team Uber Eats is looking for great design thinkers and problem solvers...

By Coroflot Jobs - March 18 New

The Period Game features all the different aspects of getting your period and teaches how to deal with them

By Kara Weinstein - March 15

A refined object with clean shapes, inspired by conviviality and tradition. Tongue is a...

By MARIO ALESSIANI - March 15

You are a talented, creative, detail-oriented and proven Visual Brand Designer whose portfolio of...

By Coroflot Jobs - March 15

The most notable campaigns of the week

By Core Jr - March 14

A holistic design approach that might just get you excited to visit your doctor

By Vivien Lee - March 14

A few months ago, a video emerged of Kanye West giving one of his...

By Paul Sohi - March 14

The UI/UX Designer role at Small Planet encompasses both Interaction Design and Visual Design...

By Coroflot Jobs - March 14

Past winners include the Autonomous Travel Suite and the Hyperloop Hotel

By Kara Weinstein - March 13

From enormous PhotoShop pins to toolbar keychains, Studio Cult Co brings humor to the trials and tribulations of the design process

By Emily Engle - March 13

‘To Bring the Enjoyment of Sports to All’ Descente LTD is running an Apparel...

By Coroflot Jobs - March 13

The kitchen drawer containing the measuring cups and spoons is often one of the...

By Gavin Lewis & Michelle Turner - March 12

Takeaway: Things will go wrong in the kiln, but that doesn't mean it's game over

By Alexandra Alexa - March 12

Our goal at ASTRO as a design studio is to bridge the gap that...

By Coroflot Jobs - March 12

A series of projects explore how design and technology can be harnessed for positive impact

By Alexandra Alexa - March 11

Conventional smart speakers work with voice and allow a conversation with the user. However,...

By Jiwon seo x Pascal grangier - March 11

At YETI, we believe that time spent outdoors matters more than ever and our...

By Coroflot Jobs - March 11

Profiles of prolific, yet underexposed, women in design, from Ray Eames to GM's first all female design team

By Core Jr - March 8

Fill the Lippa with your favorite tea leaves and let it float in your...

By Brian Khouw - March 8

At first, it's peculiar to see adults, usually in corporate attire, modeling and demonstrating...

By Molly Millette - March 8

UCO Ware worked with Anvil Studios to create beautiful and functional to-go containers

By Kara Weinstein - March 8

The most notable campaigns of the week

By Core Jr - March 7

When it's you vs. the design problem, not you vs. your coworkers

By Rain Noe - March 7

From augmented reality LEGO sets to career-oriented Barbies and everything in between

By Molly Millette - March 7

The 2019 Core77 Design Awards Regular Deadline has finally arrived! The good news? You...

By Core Jr - March 7

From product to packaging and even documentation, Jonathan Ward has left no area unaddressed

By Rain Noe - March 6

Crowdfund your idea in as little as a week with these pieces of advice

By Core Jr - March 6

We recently had the exciting opportunity to tour Reebok's 220,000 square foot headquarters located...

By Emily Engle - March 6

Vincross's creepy-crawly Hexa might be the future of agile robots, but its new MIND KIT lets budding roboticists get more creative.

By Kickstarter Design & Tech - March 6

Why PepsiCo? PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers one billion times a day in...

By Coroflot Jobs - March 6

This is the last post of Steven M. Johnson’s long-running feature, Bizarre Inventions....

By Steven Johnson - March 6

The multifaceted designer spreads Icon's wings outside of automotive, with a project that's a doozy

By Rain Noe - March 5

Karl Lagerfeld is a very particular man. I bet you think he lives in...

By Core Jr - March 5