IKEA is increasingly becoming a knick-knack shop

I once saw a documentary where it was claimed that Ikea makes more revenue from all the small items (internally called "satellite items") than from furniture. It’s no surprise why one floor consists entirely of furniture displays and another floor of the same size is dedicated to small furnishings.

However, you are fundamentally right in your criticism: the selection of system furniture has decreased, and Ikea prefers to use its shelf space for additional small furniture in the self-service warehouse rather than for greater flexibility of Pax, Besta, Metod, etc.

Especially for PAX, additional cabinet widths would be desirable, for Metod at least a 30cm carcass, even if only with an 80x30 front solely for shelves. Besta should also again offer the high-quality full-extension drawers from Hettich like the old INREDA ones. They should also offer the different heights of carcasses and fronts for Besta again, as listed in the purchase guide of the 2010 catalog.

The problem with the system furniture is that for an additional carcass with a new front measurement, you have to reserve 10 self-service warehouse spaces again to offer it in all front colors.

But Ikea has realized that they generate more daily sales per meter of shelf space if they offer many more small individual pieces of furniture than a broader selection of system furniture. It’s also logical that you sell an armchair in a trendy color more often than a 30x80cm front of the type VEDDINGE GREY. I also believe that Metod requires less shelf space than Faktum did (there were 50cm sinks, roll-door cabinets, 30cm cabinets, drawers from 30 to 60cm in 10cm increments, 80cm, etc.). Nevertheless, Metod offers very good flexibility; even Faktum had inflexible compromises (50cm front on 45cm dishwasher).

Anyone planning with Metod somehow has to re-plan and make it work differently. The same applies to Besta or Pax. Still, it’s frustrating that you can’t arrange the furniture as individually as would actually be possible. I think Ikea does not lose much revenue this way; ultimately, only a few detail lovers end up buying from a much more expensive and flexible system kitchen provider.

Ikea has a big data construct and can test in one country whether sales increase if they reduce system furniture and replace it with small furniture, or replace furniture altogether with satellite items. If it works, they do it in all countries in the next catalog year.