Dive Brief:

• About a year ago, Ikea sent a cease-and-desist letter to a blogger who posted ingenious ways of modifying (or “hacking”) Ikea furniture to change up its design or purpose.

• After considerable backlash, the company backed off, and is now actually considering selling “hack kits” of its own in a program that would be called “Ikea Hack,” Gizmodo reports.

• Ikea is also considering an “Ikea Swap” program where customers can bring in used Ikea furniture for credit on new Ikea furniture.

Dive Insight:

Last year, Retail Dive suggested Ikea should embrace the hacking idea, and that it could even have made for a great Pinterest campaign. It took a year, but this is a classic “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” scenario.

These programs may not be done deals at Ikea yet, but they are innovative ways to tap into the “reuse, reduce, recycle” mentality of younger generations. And it helps Ikea get in on the action that was already taking place with or without their permission.