IKEA READIES DEBUT OF NEW SMALLER CITY FORMAT IN NYC
Ikea will take the wraps off its new smaller store city center format with the opening of its first U.S. location in NYC on April 15. |
NEW YORK -- Swedish home furnishings retailer Ikea is getting ready to open the doors on a new smaller store format in New York City.
"We recognize that we are in a rapidly changing retail environment, and to be fit for long-term growth, IKEA is transforming in a way that lets us meet our customers where they are," said Lars Petersson, manager of IKEA's U.S. Retail operation. "New York City is the natural choice to open the first city center store -- the most vibrant, dynamic city in the U.S., and the epicenter of retail, business, and culture."
The new Ikea Upper East Side Planning Studio, which is located at 999 Third Ave. alongside retailers such as Bloomingdales, CB2, the Container Store and Home Depot, will host a sneak preview celebration on April 13. The new Planning Studio is a three story space of about 17,000 square feet.
The move is part of a strategy by the world's biggest furniture retailer to push deeper into urban areas. It has opened similar stores in London and Stockholm, and plans to open 30 more such stores in city centers in coming years, and is considering cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington and Chicago.
The new format features inspirational room settings focused on helping customers discover products and solutions suited to city living. The Ikea Planning Studio also offers one-on-one help with kitchen design, bedroom projects, small space living solutions and more. Purchases made at the Planning Studio will be conveniently delivered to customers' homes.
"The Planning Studio is significantly smaller than our traditional blue box stores, but is a brand new way for customers to experience and interact with Ikea," the company stated.