Ikea Canada opens largest store north of the border
By Michael J. Knell -- Furniture Today, November 4, 2001
TORONTO — Ikea Canada has opened its largest store north of the border, and the first it has built in a decade, in this city's western suburb of Etobicoke.
The Swedish home furnishings giant invested C$75 million in the 330,000-square-foot store, which it believes will host two million visitors in its first year alone. The company projects first-year sales in the range of C$102 million.
It's Ikea's second store in Toronto and its third largest Ikea in North America, after Chicago and Elizabeth, N.J.
"This store represents a new generation of Ikea stores, more focused on customer convenience, inspiration and low prices," said Luc Lauwers, president of Ikea Canada.
A store similar in size and merchandise presentation to Etobicoke will open as a second unit in Vancouver in May. Ikea also plans to add a second unit in Montreal but hasn't announced a firm date or location.
Etobicoke is the only store in Canada, and one of three in North America, to carry all 9,500 Ikea products. Other locations carry about 8,500 items.
Store manager Mike Baker said this Ikea is about 20% larger than the seven other Canadian outlets. About 50% of its floor space is allocated to furniture and accessories with the balance devoted to other household goods and linens.
"This store is part of a model that will be applied throughout North America," Baker said.
Hilde Abbeloos, project manager, said the store raises the bar in the areas of inspiration, family-friendliness, and consumer convenience.
"Our showrooms and room settings are designed to address the suburban trend towards room remodels (particularly kitchens), the urban trend towards loft living, and the inner-city rental realities of small rooms and basement apartments," she said.
Ikea Etobicoke has 30 kitchen settings and 60 other room vignettes and built around lifestyle themes such as the single mother with two daughters, the single guy in the bachelor apartment, and the growing family in the finite space. Almost 50% of the room settings incorporate products for children.
Convenience-oriented features of the new store include a two-level parking lot with 1,735 spaces; traffic flow advantages including its own service road, traffic light, and five points of entry; and seven customer elevators and two escalators.
"We think we can move people faster," Baker said.
An interactive children's playland is an update on the traditional children's ballroom. The store also has a restaurant with a seating capacity of 345. There are 12 different music zones throughout the store, and an abundance of natural light from 67 skylights in the store and self-service warehouse.
He said that according to a new shopper tracking system, some 200,000 people visited the store in its first 12 days of operation.
| On hand for the ceremonial log-cutting to officially open the new Ikea store are Mike Baker, left; store manager; Luc Lauwers, president of Ikea Canada; Toronto City Councillor Peter Milczym; Robert Stocks, Sweden's consul to Canada; and Jan Kjellman of Ikea Europe. |
| The new Ikea Etobicoke has landscaping and other architectural features designed to ensure the store complements the surrounding streetscape. |
-
Ikea Sets Loyalty Program
Sep 2, 2011 -
Ikea rolling out new customer loyalty program
Aug 24, 2011 -
Ikea Opens 1st Store in Colorado, 38th in U.S.
Aug 16, 2011 -
Ikea initiates remodel of Elizabeth, N.J., store
Mar 4, 2009
Featured Company
-
FurnitureCore.com
FurnitureCore.com is a dynamic web application aimed at the furniture industry. Retailers and manufacturers alike will find our deep reserve of tools to be exactly what their furniture business needs.www.furniturecore.com... more
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
