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) by kazzie on Thursday October 12 2017, @02:03PM
Only if you don't notice the small hanging signs saying "Shortcut to ...".
But yes, they do want people to walk through the entire shop by default. Then you're more likely to spot something else to buy.
Big discount retailers in the UK (Poundstrecher, B&M Bargains in my area) have started rearranging their aisles so that on entering the shop you have no choice but to walk the length of the first aisle to the very back of the shop, even if you just want to talk to the cashier. At least in Ikea there are cut-throughs you can use if you spot them.