![]() ![]() Still, smaller store formats have long been top of mind for the Swedish retailer, which has invested heavily in modernizing its business in recent years. According to the Financial Times, sales in Ikea's financial year that ended in August slumped by 4% as a result of store closures. The announcement comes as many retailers struggle to stay afloat against the global pandemic, as several took significant sales hits due to the temporary shuttering of stores in response to the coronavirus. Though the spokesperson did not provide further details on what the forthcoming stores will look like, the Financial Times reported they are likely to include elements like "kitchen planning studios" and services such as furniture rental. Ikea currently has more than 420 stores across 52 countries, and is best known for its sprawling warehouse locations, typically situated in the suburbs or other more remote areas. ![]() It will be a mix of formats, including smaller stores closer to where people live or work or move." "It's never going to be that we go back to only opening big stores. "This is how we have accelerated in our ambition to become more accessible," Jon Abrahamsson Ring, Ikea's newly appointed chief executive of brand, told the Financial Times regarding the new store concepts. ![]() In the US, new store locations will open in cities including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Ikea is gearing up to open 50 more stores this year, with an emphasis on smaller locations in cities and urban centers.Īccording to Ikea, the expansion is part of parent company Ingka's "global ambition to evaluate opportunities within 40 major cities across Europe, Russia, North America, Asia, and Oceania" in order "to introduce their vibrant, urban destinations" to the company's portfolio, a spokesperson said. The company recently opened a small-format store in central London, and a 53,800-square-foot city-center store in Paris is set to open on May 6.Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders. The New York City location is the brand’s first city-center store stateside, although 30 new Planning Studio locations-think Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.-are planned for the next three years. Customers can also arrange for furniture assembly and installation. ![]() The best part for shoppers? All purchases made at the Ikea Planning Studio will be conveniently delivered (for a cost) to the customer’s home. “We hope the Planning Studio will serve as a convenient destination for design expertise and stylish, multi-functional home furnishing solutions.”Ĭustomers will be able to browse popular products and lines while also having access to Ikea experts (by online appointment) for help with designing spaces and planning projects. “We conducted extensive research about city living, and we believe New Yorkers will see their needs reflected this new concept,” said Leontyne Green Sykes, Chief Operating Officer, IKEA Retail U.S. Instead of prioritizing a dizzying array of products, the new store in New York City will feature more styled living areas that showcase a curated selection of smart solutions for city living. With growth in the number of visitors to its existing stores at a standstill, Ikea’s announcement is part of a larger effort to play catch up on e-commerce, test furniture rentals, and rethink the habits of urban shoppers. Called the Ikea Planning Studio, the new store will open its doors at 999 Third Avenue in New York City on April 15, and it will look quite different from the sprawling, bright blue buildings that have been a cornerstone of the brand. Forget the big-box stores Ikea is known for, the iconic Swedish furniture retailer is set to debut its first city center location in the U.S. ![]()
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