Ikea Australia is launching a new concept later this year to make the retailer more accessible to consumers.
Called Planning Studios, these first of their kind meeting points form part of the retailer’s growth strategy for Australia and will provide new and innovative ways for Ikea to become more accessible and convenient for many Australians.
“The goal for our expansion is simple: we will be where many people are, offering more people the ability to choose when, where and how they want to engage with IKEA,” Mirja Viinanen, CEO for IKEA Australia says.
“Convenience is at the heart of our strategy.”
A Planning Studio, sized between just 300 and 500 square metres, is a place where customers can plan and order complex home furnishing products and services such as kitchens, wardrobes and console units.
Each studio will have a collection point closeby where customers can collect their products. There will be no immediate articles or food on site and the main focus will be in assisting customers to create their dream home furnishing solutions.
“We will continue to transform and test new formats like the new Planning Studios to be able to meet our customers where it is convenient for them and we are constantly researching where this need is the greatest to inform our expansion strategy.”
The first Ikea Planning Studio will open in Northwest Melbourne before the end of the year, with an additional location looking to be secured in Newcastle, which will be a first for the NSW city.
