We all enjoy taking a stroll in an Ikea store, browsing through the aisles, thinking how great this couch or kitchen would look at home. That's for the lucky UK customers living at a reasonable distance from an Ikea store. And with only 18 locations in the UK, it may take hours to drive there. We have the catalogue and the website though, but all items aren't deliverable and when they are, it may be quite expensive. So Ikea has been thinking about it and came out with a new store concept, a smaller format where customers may get advice for elaborate purchases (such as bathroom or kitchen furniture), test the products, and collect their orders.
These relays will also include a café and a few items available to purchase on the spot. The first Order and Collection Point is expected to open in Norwich this November. Others are planned to follow, and these small-format stores will also help Ikea figure out what its clients need in these areas and therefore improve their offer locally. Spain, Norway and Finland already benefit from Order and Collection Points trials. The renovation of actual stores is also on Ikea's agenda, along with new locations openings and improvements focused on the online-store and further customer service.
*Photo: Ikea Leeds / Mtaylor848
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