Ikea Canada to debut small-format store
A home furnishings giant’s Canadian division is set to unveil a new scaled-down store format.
Ikea Canada will introduce a new type of small format store designed to make shopping more convenient, with the first location set to open in London, Ontario. Located in White Oaks Mall, the new store will have a compact layout of about 43,000 square feet, with select items from Ikea’s full range of more than 2,000 home essentials and seasonal favorites available.
As a point of reference, Ikea Canada says the London store will be roughly one-fifth the size of the Ikea location in Burlington, Ontario.
"At Ikea, we're on an exciting journey to transform our business to be more accessible, affordable, and sustainable to our customers no matter how they choose to shop with us," says Selwyn Crittendon, CEO and chief sustainability officer of Ikea Canada. "As we approach our 50th anniversary in Canada this year, we are moving with speed to ensure that we continue to meet our customers' evolving needs and dreams at home, guided by our founding vision to create a better everyday life for the many."
The scaled-down store will also offer guests the ability to order the full Ikea product offering with flexible delivery and pickup options. The location will complement the London Plan and order point, a service-based location where customers can book one-on-one appointments with Ikea experts to plan, design, and purchase home furnishing solutions, which opened in March 2024.
[READ MORE: Placer.ai: Why Ikea will open its first Oklahoma store in its second-biggest market]
"By offering the iconic Ikea store experience on a smaller scale, we are leaning into the physical store that we are best known for while delivering an innovative approach that reflects a rapidly changing retail landscape and customer preferences," added Crittendon. "Customers have responded positively to pilot stores in other countries, and we will continue to listen to co-worker and customer feedback to renew and improve."
Ikea Canada is part of Ingka Group, which operates 574 Ikea stores in 31 countries, including 15 stores and 12 Plan and order points in Canada.
In the United States, Ikea recently announced plans for 10 new locations slated to open this year, including its first city-center store in Los Angeles and stores in Phoenix and the Dallas, Houston and Chicago metro areas.
