Ikea to open first of new retail park stores in Harlow
Ikea is to open the first of three new retail park stores at Harlow Retail Park in Harlow, Essex.
The Harlow location features the homeware retailer’s new ‘small store’ format, which has been developed to be significantly faster and more cost-effective to open than traditional Ikea stores.
Ikea’s new concept stores will be located on retail park locations, utilising the existing structure of the units, making them easier to put together. As a result, Ikea Harlow will open its doors just over 100 days after acquiring the lease.
The store’s compact layout has been designed to be easy to navigate and designed for everyday convenience. Features and services at the store include a showroom and market hall, online access to the full Ikea range, and a food offer.
The opening comes as Ikea plans to open two more stores with its new format, located in Norwich and Chester, over the coming months. In addition, the retailer will be opening two ‘Plan and Order’ points in Dundee and York, as well as a city centre store in Brighton, in 2025.
Peter Jelkeby, CEO of Ikea UK & Ireland, said: “The opening of the Ikea Harlow small store is a landmark moment for us as we continue to evolve our retail offer and explore new ways to serve more people in more places. We look forward to joining this thriving town as part of the local community when we open our doors later this month.”