Ikea to launch new ‘refreshingly compact’ store format in former Homebase units

The home and furniture giant has secured three units on busy retail parks to bring a new smaller Ikea store format to market. 

Promising shoppers “the classic Ikea experience that customers know and love, on a smaller scale”, the new smaller stores will open in former Homebase units in Harlow, Chester and Norwich.

According to the retailer, the new format will offer shoppers a curated range of products, planning and design services, as well as a click and collect service. Around 5,000 products will be on display in store, with 3,000 available to take home immediately and the rest available to order. 

The stores will also feature a food offer, which the retailer describes as a “compact on-the-go food menu for customers to take away”.

Ikea UK and Ireland chief executive Peter Jelkeby said: “We know many people want to shop with Ikea but in some instances we are just too far away. That’s why we are strategically expanding our UK footprint, with the aim of showing up in convenient, accessible locations for our customers. Centrally located in retail parks, our three new stores mark a major step forward in our expansion plan, making it easier than ever for customers in these areas to shop with us.”

“Harlow, Chester and Norwich have long been areas of interest to us, and we’re looking forward to bringing the very best of the Ikea experience in a refreshingly compact format to these communities later this year.”

The news comes as Ikea announced its Oxford Street store is set to open this spring, and another city centre store will open in Brighton later this year. The retailer currently has 21 full-size big box stores across the UK, an order and collection point in Aberdeen, and three plan and order points in Aintree, Preston and Stockport.