Ikea has unveiled new images of its first small format UK shop, set to open in Hammersmith next month. The opening marks a move to the city centre from Ikea’s more usual out-of-town sites, and customers will be able to travel to the shop by bus or tube or pop in on their lunch break.
The two-storey 4,600 sq m store in the former Kings Mall Shopping Centre – now remained LIVAT Hammersmith by Ikea Group company Ingka Centres which has owned it since 2019 – will first open to the public on February 24. There, shoppers will be able to see a range of about 4,000 products, of which some 1,800 will be available to take away on the same time – while the others can be ordered online for home delivery or collection. Shoppers will take a “free-flowing” approach to how they view room layouts in the stores, in a break from Ikea’s usual signposted route around the store, while products will be located next to the relevant layout rather than in a separate market hall.
Peter Jelkeby, country retail manager and chief sustainability officer at Ikea UK & Ireland, says: “As shopping habits evolve and city centres continue to be redefined in the wake of the pandemic, this new store format marks the next step in our business transformation as we strive to make Ikea more accessible, affordable and sustainable.
“For the first time, Londoners will be able to take the tube to an Ikea store, pop in, grab a yellow bag and buy all the home furnishing accessories that make a house a home. They will also be able to explore the whole range, for delivery to a convenient collection point or directly to their home.”
The new store’s sustainability credentials include a Breeam Outstanding rating, and easy access to four tube lines and 68 bus routes. A small circular hub will feature Ikea’s buy back service, where customers can trade in some of their previous Ikea buys for vouchers – from a selected range – or buy the furniture that others have already traded in.
The store also features a new-look cafe – the Swedish Deli – that will sell Ikea’s well-known meatballs alongside vegan alternatives, open sandwiches and salads.
