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Ikea to sell online on third-party sites Ikea to sell online on third-party sites
(about 2 hours later)
Ikea will start experimenting with selling its famous flatpack furniture through online retailers in what marks the biggest change in the way the Swedish chain does business. 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 move comes in response to changes in the way consumers buy big-ticket items such as sofas. The Swedish chain - known for its vast edge-of-town outlets - is also testing a smaller city centre store format.
Ikea is also testing new types of stores in city centres smaller than its vast edge-of-town outlets. Other innovations include order and pick-up points and standalone kitchen showrooms.
The retailer has not said which websites will be part of the test. The moves are a response to changing shopping patterns.
The likes of Amazon and Alibaba are thought to be likely contenders, however, given their popularity with consumers. 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.
Torbjörn Lööf, chief executive of Inter Ikea, told the Financial Times it was "the biggest development in how consumers meet Ikea since the concept was founded. We want to learn ... we want to find out how we could keep our identity on a third-party platform." Torbjörn Lööf, chief executive of Inter Ikea, told the Financial Times it was "the biggest development in how consumers meet Ikea since the concept was founded. We want to learn ... we want to find out how we could keep our identity on a third-party platform." 
Ikea sells many of its products on its own website, but was a late arrival to the online retail market. There are 403 Ikea stores globally and, despite the online push, another 22 stores are expected to open in the coming year in countries including India and Latvia.
Last month Ikea said it was buying Task Rabbit, an app that matches consumers with people who can assemble furniture as well as do other chores such as cleaning or painting. Ikea now has outlets in 49 countries and plans to enter South America within the next five years.
Inter Ikea said on Monday that global turnover rose 5% to €38.3bn (£34.2bn) for the 12 months to August.Inter Ikea said on Monday that global turnover rose 5% to €38.3bn (£34.2bn) for the 12 months to August.
The retailer now has 403 stores in 49 markets, with another 22 planned in the coming year. The business is the largest of Ikea's 11 franchisees and has 355 stores.
It also plans to continue rolling out new formats and expand its e-commerce activities, Inter IKEA said. Last month Ikea said it was buying Task Rabbit, an app that matches consumers with people who can assemble furniture as well as do other chores such as cleaning or painting.
Ikea stores are owned by 11 franchisees, of which IKEA Group is the biggest with 355 stores.