IKEA to start selling products through unidentified third-party online retailers

Changing the way it has done business, IKEA is planning a different online strategy to keep up with its competitors. IKEA’s CEO Torbjörn Lööf told Financial Times that they would be partnering with a third-party online retailer to start peddling its wares on the internet. He won’t say which one but Fast Company is saying Amazon and Alibaba are prime suspects for this move. Lööf told FT that “this is the biggest development in how consumers meet IKEA since the concept was founded.”

And with the rapidly changing behaviour of shoppers, IKEA seems to understand the need to change. Lööf said, “Traditionally the whole IKEA value chain has been designed to deliver to stores. That is changing, and it is challenging a number of ways of doing business. We are fast learners and we are moving.”

Ikea to come out with new furniture to charge your phones

Ikea is going to make it easier for you to charge your smartphones with new furniture that come integrated with Qi wireless device. The Swedish furniture brand partnered with Wireless Power Consortium to make this possible. The line will include lamps, bedside tables, and even an Ikea-designed pad so you can stick Qi charging to any surface. But again, you must check if your device is compatible with WPC’s Qi charging standard. Not all phones work with that.

Source: The Verge

IKEA Emoticons aim to improve communication between men and women

IKEA is known for many things from DIY Billy bookcases to delicious Swedish treats and now you can add emoticons to the mix. IKEA Emoticons is an app that enables people to easily add an additional keyboard with IKEA brand icons to their smartphone. The keyboard lets people express themselves with emoji of IKEA icons, products and everyday household items. This free app is available for download in the App Store and Google Play.