Ikea will start experimenting with selling its famous flatpack furniture through online retailers as part of a wider push to become more accessible to shoppers.
The Swedish chain - known for its vast edge-of-town outlets - is also testing a smaller city centre store format.
Other innovations include order and pick-up points and standalone kitchen showrooms.
The moves are a response to changing shopping patterns.
Ikea has has not said which websites will be part of the test, but Amazon and Alibaba are thought to be likely contenders.
The chain sells many of its 9,500 products on its own website, but was a late arrival to the online retail market.
Waiting on an endless line at the checkout is the best part about buying Ikea's goods.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by i286NiNJA on Wednesday October 11 2017, @06:12PM (1 child)
That sounds awful please never mention this idea again. It sounds exactly like someone's idea of a good idea.
(Score: 2) by t-3 on Wednesday October 11 2017, @10:46PM
Nothing to fear in that idea. Retailers know that the checkout line is when the customer is at the most volatile and lay likely to make additional purchases, and thus speed and service are priorities. Don't give your customers a chance to think! Skillfully arranged and run stores will place temptation after temptation in front of you, and get your money out your pocket before you do any kind of cost analysis or rethink your decisions.