Ikea plans urban proximity stores for Canada

BURLINGTON, Ont. ― Ikea Canada has recently announced it will begin opening smaller urban stores in Canada, starting in Toronto, according to the Globe & Mail. The retailer has an eye to following up with locations in other urban centres like Montreal and Vancouver. Two formats are being tested: one in the range of 50,000 square feet, offering a similar range of products as Ikea’s big boxes with delivery to home or pick-up points in lieu of an on-site warehouse. A smaller format, closer to 5,000 square feet, would offer a limited inventory based on neighbourhood needs. “We’re working on a three-year time frame, and we have full intention to open several new-format stores in that time,” said Ikea Canada CEO Michael Ward. The company currently has smaller stores in cities such as Paris and New York.