IKEA: Where You Can Buy A Bookcase And Now Insurance

A trip to IKEA could soon include a lot more than just buying shelves, bedding, and other home items. The retailers is reportedly rolling out trial sales of range of insurance policies.

The Wall Street Journal reports the company began selling child and pregnancy insurance at select stores in Sweden last week.

Currently the Omifall plans are targeted to the 2.5 million members of IKEA’s loyalty program. In the future the company could expand offerings to the company’s 59 million global members.

The pregnancy and child insurance plans cover accidents while women are pregnant and then transform into child accident protection after birth. According to the Omifall website, the plans are “valid even if you have other insurance. OMIFALL pregnancy and child insurance will be combined with any existing coverage you may have. This means that the amount paid from us will be paid in addition to any other compensation given from other insurance.”

The plans are handled by an entity within the IKEA empire called Ikano Group, which is owned by the three sons of 88-year-old IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad.

In the past, IKEA used its large customer base to expand into other businesses. The WSJ reports that in 2012, the company launched an trial for selling televisions and loudspeakers. That program was later expanded internationally.

IKEA Gets Into Insurance Business [The Wall Street Journal]

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