Ikea has made the decision to close one of its stores, just two years after its initial opening. The Swedish furniture retailer will be shutting down its Plan and Order point at the Stockport Merseyway Shopping Centre on June 16.
The Plan and Order points by Ikea are smaller retail locations that specialize in kitchen, bedroom, and living room planning services, providing customers with design assistance.
While customers cannot physically take items home from a Plan and Order point, they can place orders for home delivery. The nearest Ikea store is situated in Ashton-under-Lyne in Tameside.
Salma Azad, the Ikea area manager, expressed, “After thorough evaluation, we have taken the tough decision to close the Ikea Plan and Order Point at Merseyway Shopping Centre. Over the two years since its opening, we have gained valuable insights on how our customers prefer to engage with Ikea, and we will use this knowledge for future endeavors to better serve shoppers.”
The closure follows the recent opening of Ikea’s new store on Oxford Street in London, which occupies three floors of a seven-storey building, encompassing a retail area of 5,800 square meters. This location is the second smaller format Ikea store, following the Hammersmith branch that opened in 2023.
Peter Jelkeby, CEO and Chief Sustainability Officer at IKEA UK, mentioned, “The new store on Oxford Street will offer familiar Ikea favorites along with exclusive features tailored to this iconic city center. We are thrilled to share this moment following extensive renovation work.”
Tolga Öncü, Ingka Retail Manager (COO) at IKEA Retail (Ingka Group), added, “The addition of Oxford Street to our retail network is a significant milestone for us, showcasing our commitment to bringing Ikea products to urban areas where our customers live, work, and socialize.”
The store in Oxford Street offers around 6,000 product lines, with 3,500 items available for immediate purchase at the store, while the rest can be ordered for home delivery or click and collect. Each product is labeled with either a yellow or red tag, indicating its availability for immediate purchase or delivery.
IKEA continues to pursue innovative retail strategies to expand its presence in city centers worldwide, offering well-designed and affordable products to a broader audience.