Ikea buys services startup TaskRabbit (and everyone who hates assembling furniture just cheered)
Swedish-founded furniture giant Ikea is branching into the online sharing economy through a merger deal with on-demand help startup TaskRabbit.
TaskRabbit provides an online platform where people can hire freelance labour for anything from fixing leaky plumbing or assembling furniture to picking up groceries or waiting in queues outside Apple stores to buy iPhones on launch days.
Just learned TaskRabbit was purchased by IKEA.. pretty sure I know who's on the short list for new CEO. pic.twitter.com/RCzoKg5Xda
— briadavi (@briadavi) September 28, 2017
Since being founded nine years ago, San Francisco-based TaskRabbit has spread to 40 US cities and London, according to the company.
"Through our unique on-demand platform, TaskRabbit is making life better for both consumers and Taskers," startup chief executive Stacy Brown-Philpot said.
TaskRabbit expected the merger with Ikea Group to result in a broader array of services being offered and the potential for 'taskers' to make more money.
Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. TaskRabbit will continue to operate as an independent company, according to Ikea, which has its headquarters in the Netherlands.
Does this mean some poor souls at Task Rabbit have to make a career out of deciphering Ikea hieroglyphics/instructions every day, all day? https://t.co/TE5a5yZoxa
— Shirin (@shiringhaffary) September 28, 2017
Late last year, Ikea successfully tested making TaskRabbit talent available to help Ikea customers assemble newly bought furniture.
"In a fast changing retail environment, we continuously strive to develop new and improved products and services to make our customers' lives a little bit easier," Ikea chief executive Jesper Brodin said in the joint release.
"Entering the on-demand, sharing economy enables us to support that."
Ikea plans to make TaskRabbit services available to customers after the acquisition is completed.
TÅSKKRÅBËT pic.twitter.com/Hu1n1P7SZf
— jeffrey kalmikoff (@jeffrey) September 28, 2017
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TaskRabbit provides an online platform where people can hire freelance labour for anything from fixing leaky plumbing or assembling furniture to picking up groceries or waiting in queues outside Apple stores to buy iPhones on launch days.
Just learned TaskRabbit was purchased by IKEA.. pretty sure I know who's on the short list for new CEO. pic.twitter.com/RCzoKg5Xda
— briadavi (@briadavi) September 28, 2017
Since being founded nine years ago, San Francisco-based TaskRabbit has spread to 40 US cities and London, according to the company.
"Through our unique on-demand platform, TaskRabbit is making life better for both consumers and Taskers," startup chief executive Stacy Brown-Philpot said.
TaskRabbit expected the merger with Ikea Group to result in a broader array of services being offered and the potential for 'taskers' to make more money.
Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. TaskRabbit will continue to operate as an independent company, according to Ikea, which has its headquarters in the Netherlands.
Does this mean some poor souls at Task Rabbit have to make a career out of deciphering Ikea hieroglyphics/instructions every day, all day? https://t.co/TE5a5yZoxa
— Shirin (@shiringhaffary) September 28, 2017
Late last year, Ikea successfully tested making TaskRabbit talent available to help Ikea customers assemble newly bought furniture.
"In a fast changing retail environment, we continuously strive to develop new and improved products and services to make our customers' lives a little bit easier," Ikea chief executive Jesper Brodin said in the joint release.
"Entering the on-demand, sharing economy enables us to support that."
Ikea plans to make TaskRabbit services available to customers after the acquisition is completed.
TÅSKKRÅBËT pic.twitter.com/Hu1n1P7SZf
— jeffrey kalmikoff (@jeffrey) September 28, 2017
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