Enthusiastic buyers are finally streaming into the highly anticipated new IKEA location on Oxford Street after waiting in line for hours for its official launch today.
The £450 million project, which has been postponed twice, is now underway.
viewed by retail and council leaders as an essential component in reviving Oxford Street to reclaim its status as one of the globe’s leading shopping destinations.
The establishment has taken over the previous Topshop location in the city center to launch a three-story store offering approximately 6,000 items. Customers will have immediate access to about 3,500 of these products, with the remaining ones available through home delivery, click-and-collect services, or pickup at designated lockers and locations.
Images taken earlier today depict fans of the Swedish label seated on the ground before the official launch.
For the first time globally, this store will include a live studio equipped with broadcasting facilities, allowing it to organize various events like cooking demonstrations.
It will also feature a Re-Shop and Re-Use area where customers can purchase pre-owned and outdated IKEA items.
A 130-seater Swedish eatery in the heart of the city will offer affordable dining experiences, featuring items such as hot dogs for around $1.20 CAD and meatballs or plantballs beginning at approximately $6.75 CAD, along with takeout choices.
This marks the second UK high street location for the company—the initial one launched in Hammersmith in 2022—and they view this as a significant step towards their plan of growing within city centers through more compact outlets, thereby making them easier for consumers to access.
A new location in downtown Brighton is scheduled to launch this summer, soon after which three additional smaller outlets will open their doors in Chester, Harlow, and Norwich within this year.
The firm mentioned it has particular interests in regions such as London, the Midlands, and the North West, although they have not confirmed any new sites at this time.
In recent years, the neighborhood has deteriorated due to increased crime and homelessness, leading to dilapidation with vacant storefronts, trash-strewn sidewalks, and declining foot traffic—poor-quality American “candy stores” and souvenir shops being major points of concern.
Several major retailers besides Topshop have also shut down in recent years.
incorporated House of Fraser, Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins, and Debenhams.
Issues escalated to their highest point in August 2023 when shops in the West End area encountered difficulties.
compelled to close their shutters and secure customers within
Following an appeal made on TikTok for mostly young males to participate in what was termed as a ‘JD robbery at Oxford Circus,’ significant numbers joined in.
However, the district gained momentum when HMV revived its former flagship outlet in November 2023, and Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan aims to
convert 0.7 miles of the street into a pedestrian area as part of the rejuvenation project despitewarnings that this might lead to
It is a district plagued with high criminal activity where people rarely venture.
Ikea mentioned its ‘roomsets,’ which refer to the display areas found in each of its outlets.
display fully assembled rooms
– have been developed using real individuals from London.
These encompass setups for remote work and operating a small enterprise, inspiration for homes featuring historic elements, concepts for basements lacking ample sunlight, as well as balcony design options.
Peter Jelkeby, who serves as both the CEO and Chief Sustainability Officer at IKEA UK, stated: “We remain committed to
devote our efforts to our UK growth strategies and making significant investments
to become more accessible.
‘We are dedicated to enhancing our current store presence by concentrating on continuous innovation aimed at reaching a broader customer base. This strategy includes establishing a chain of compact, new outlets designed for varied consumer experiences along with introducing fresh services tailored to fulfill every one of our customers’ requirements—regardless of their location.’
The company referred to its new site as being at the ‘center of one of the globe’s most vibrant retail avenues.’
Ingka Investments, which is the investment division of the retail company, acquired the Grade II listed structure at 214 Oxford Street following the collapse of Arcadia, the owner of Topshop, into administration.
Tolga Oncu, an Ingka retail manager, stated: ” Incorporating Oxford Street into the Ikea map is a significant milestone for our company.”
Tolga Oncu, an Ingka retail manager, stated: ” Incorporating Oxford Street into the Ikea map is a significant milestone for our company.”
This store, located on one of the busiest and most renowned streets globally, embodies our commitment to revolutionize our retail experience and make IKEA accessible to our clientele wherever they are.
live, work, and socialise
.
‘Still moving ahead by extending our thoughtfully crafted and budget-friendly offerings to a larger audience in urban areas worldwide continues to be our strategy.’
The store’s launch is considered a key element in the rejuvenation of Oxford Street, which experienced a decline in foot traffic due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This downturn led to several locations remaining unoccupied and an influx of American candy stores.
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, stated: “This is wonderful news as IKEA plans to open a new flagship outlet on Oxford Street.”
This represents substantial endorsement for London, our economic landscape, as well as our strategies to revitalize Oxford Street and realize its full potential.
Oxford Street stands as one of the premier shopping attractions globally, and we
eager to breathe new life into it.
This includes luring exceptional companies such as IKEA, which will aid in generating new employment opportunities and boosting traffic.
We have created daring initiatives to
convert Oxford Street into a pedestrian area and position it as a premier destination for shopping, leisure activities, and outdoor events worldwide.
.
The consultation regarding these plans concludes on May 2, hence I urge everybody to share their thoughts.
Ikea was
Established in Sweden in 1943, the company opened its initial UK outlet in Warrington, Cheshire, in 1987, followed by its first store in London, at Wembley, the following year.
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