Ikea purchases gig-economy startup TaskRabbit

Ikea, the Swedish furniture store, is famous for its wordless assembly instruction booklets. But in case you have trouble figuring out the pictures — or simply lack the patience for hex wrenches — the company said Thursday that it’s buying TaskRabbit, the gig-economy startup that lets you contract out those types of tasks to other people.

The two companies did not disclose the size of the purchase. But in a release, Ikea said that the deal will allow it to connect customers directly to the freelancers on TaskRabbit’s digital platform, many of whom already do packing and moving, furniture assembly or cleaning.

“We will be able to learn from TaskRabbit’s digital expertise, while also providing IKEA customers additional ways to access flexible and affordable service solutions,” said Jesper Brodin, Ikea’s chief executive, in a release.

The deal has TaskRabbit starting off helping U.S. and U.K.-based customers, but Ikea said that it could eventually add TaskRabbit support in some of the other 27 countries where the home goods giant operates.

TaskRabbit’s chief executive, Stacy Brown-Philpot, said the acquisition could help its contractors — known as Taskers — make more money from each job and further expand the company’s footprint.

“TaskRabbit is making life better for both consumers and Taskers,” she said. “In the communities in which we operate, TaskRabbit provides strong economic impact.”