What: The furniture industry has shifted from generational pieces that were handmade and handed down from generation to generation to ‘fast furniture’ pieces that can be easily bought then disposed of.

Why it is important: “Fast furniture’ contributes to the 9 million tons of furniture tossed in landfills every year. This is why recommerce has now expanded into the furniture space.

For the upper-end furniture market, there are several players acting as market intermediaries and resellers. They cater to luxury, high-design brands, and vintage or collectible furnishings. Among them, are resellers 1stDibs, The RealReal Recollection, Etsy, and Chairish. Like other marketplaces, these players offer a forum for third-party resellers, antique or estate dealers, and the like. They have avid, but niche followings and offer both buyers and sellers attractive highly shoppable websites.

Kaiyo is a furniture retailer that is disrupting the furniture recommerce space as its mission is to keep as much furniture out of landfills and in people’s homes as possible. The company offers an easy process for customers to sell their unwanted furniture, with an "instant offer" system and white glove pickup and delivery in certain areas. After receiving the furniture, Kaiyo inspects, cleans, and posts the items on their user-friendly marketplace. The company has seen significant growth as it offers a complete solution for selling, buying, and delivering pre-owned furniture.

Even Ikea has refocused on sustainability and launched various circularity initiatives. One of the programs is a buy-back and resale pilot that has expanded to many different cities after an initial successful pilot in Philadelphia. Their programs allow Ikea customers to sell their gently used items and receive payment in the form of an Ikea refund card. Ikea has also started selling ‘gently used’ items through its ‘As-is Online’ program.

From Ikea to Kaiyo, furniture recommerce resets the table