IKEA is set to close two of its stores in the UK on Monday, with the Swedish retailer having announced the decision following ‘valuable lessons’ learned in recent years
IKEA is set to close two of its UK stores, with the Swedish giant citing “valuable lessons” learned in recent times as the reason behind the closures.
The furniture shop has been a UK staple since the 1980s with its inaugural store in Warrington, Cheshire, and it currently boasts 22 locations across the UK.
Despite its successful expansion, this week will see the shutters come down on two outlets. The Aintree Plan and Order Point store in Liverpool, which opened in 2022, is one of the casualties. This concept store allowed patrons to plan and order select home items with the help of expert staff, though you could not walk out with purchases on the spot.
These smaller-format stores were designed to assist customers in crafting their dream bedrooms, kitchens and living rooms.
However, the Aintree store is slated for closure, with an IKEA spokesperson explaining their decision. They said: “There has been an increased demand for Click and Collect services, a desire to shop a smaller selection of home furnishing accessories, as well as the ability to return goods to physical IKEA units, something which, owing to the space available, the current location is unable to offer.”
Looking ahead, IKEA aims to enhance customer experience, with future Plan and Order Point launches in Dundee, Hull and York set to provide these sought-after services.
The spokesperson added: “IKEA also remains committed to trialling new formats including its upcoming small stores, one of which will open in Chester later this year.”
The store will shut today, but shoppers who are still waiting for orders can collect their goods from Tesco Extra Birkenhead, Tesco Superstore Old Swan, the Warrington branch or the soon-to-open Chester outpost.
IKEA Stockport situated in Merseyway Shopping Centre is set to wind down operations, having been a fixture for just two years.
Patrons of this location are now being directed to the Ashton-under-Lyne store in Tameside.
Those customers can also retrieve their IKEA hauls from Tesco Extra in Stockport and the Tesco Extra in Stretford.
However, the Plan and Order Point outlets in Dundee, York and Hull are getting a makeover to better align with consumer demands, offering the chance to buy select products and whisk them away on the spot.
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