Popular Swedish furniture and home goods retailer IKEA recently announced the grand opening of its flagship NYC store — to be located in the heart of Manhattan. Named the “IKEA Planning Studio,” the Big Apple-inspired location will focus on “smart solutions for urban living and small spaces,” and give customers the "opportunity to discover, select and order IKEA products for delivery to their home, which is what urban residents and want and need,” according to Retail Dive.
Located at 999 Third Avenue, this Midtown storefront was created alongside a reimagined sales strategy for the company, which is pivoting to focus on the fact that globally, people are increasingly interested in relocating to urban areas — and decorating their homes to reflect the needs of an urban lifestyle. IKEA has plans to open at least 30 similar stores in the near future.
"We recognize that we are in a rapidly changing retail environment, and to be fit for long-term growth, IKEA is transforming in a way that lets us meet our customers where they are," Lars Petersson, country manager, IKEA Retail U.S, said in a statement, according to Retail Dive. "New York City is the natural choice to open the first city center store — the most vibrant, dynamic city in the U.S., and the epicenter of retail, business, and culture."
Learn more about the IKEA Planning Studio here.
Photo credit: IKEA