IKEA has announced the closure of two if its UK stores. The Swedish retailer has shared a statement that revealed the reason for the closures, expaining that they had learned “valuable lessons” over the last few years. IKEA currently has 22 stores across the UK and has been operating in Britain since the 1980s when it opened its first store Warrington, Cheshire. The home furniture brand has grown impressively in the UK, but two stores are set to close this week.
IKEA has announced the closure of its Aintree Plan and Order Point store in Liverpool. The store initially opened in 2022 and offered customers the opportunity to plan and purchase certain items for their homes with expert staff, but customers couldn’t buy and take their items there and then. The Plan and Order Point stores are smaller and were set up to help customers design their bedrooms, kitchens and living rooms.
However, the Aintree store will close tomorrow with a spokesperson for IKEA explaining the decision. “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,” they said.
“To better service its customers, future Plan and Order Point openings, including in Dundee, Hull and York will offer these services.
“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 close on Monday, June 16. Customers who have made purchases there can pick them up from Tesco Extra Birkenhead, Tesco Superstore Old Swan, the Warrington store or the Chester location which will be open soon.
On the same day, IKEA Stockport in Merseyway Shopping Centre will cease operations after opening just two years ago. Customers who have shopped at this store are now being advised to go to Ashton-under-Lyne in Tameside.
Customers there can also pick up their IKEA purchases from Tesco Extra in Stockport and the Tesco Extra in Stretford. Meanwhile, the Plan and Order Point stores in Dundee, York and Hull will be readapted to suit customer needs with the ability to purchase certain items and take them away then and there.
