IKEA opens new full-sized store in London’s Greenwich
IKEA has opened a new full-sized store in London’s Greenwich as part of plans to have more shops in or near city centres.
Situated in the Millennium Way Retail Park, the 32,000 square metre store is the retailer’s first full-sized shop to launch in London in 14 years. It has created 500 new jobs.
The store was officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony by Helen Aylett, IKEA Greenwich store manager, Hege Sæbjørnsen, UK and Ireland country sustainability manager, and Claire Pritchard, chief executive of the store’s local partner, Greenwich Cooperative Development Agency.
The store is the retailer’s 22nd full-sized UK store to date amd one of its most sustainable.
Aylett said: “IKEA Greenwich aims to take sustainability to the next level, not just in its design and architecture, but by inspiring and enabling Londoners to live a more sustainable life at home through our products, workshops and activities. The store has been built with the local community in mind and provides a number of flexible spaces and facilities which people can use for free, such as a roof pavilion and community garden.”
The store also features a “Learning Lab” where IKEA’s customers, partners and the local community can explore prolonging the life of products, upcycling, reducing waste and growing their own food. The building has also made use of various renewable construction materials and green technologies such as solar panels, rainwater harvesting, geothermal heating and 100% LED lighting.
IKEA Greenwich is offering a range of delivery options such as 24-hour delivery for customers living within the Royal Borough of Greenwich, a Zedify bike courier service and Hertz EV van hire.
Aylett added: “We know that choice, convenience, value and speed are key, and most people like to go shopping without the hassle of having to get everything back home. Instead of bringing their cars, we’re encouraging our customers to simply bring their keys, phone and wallet and we’ll sort out the rest.”
Other full-sized IKEA stores in the London area include Wembley, Tottenham, Croydon and Lakeside. IKEA has also recently opened its first ever Planning Studio in the heart of London at Tottenham Court Road. A further Planning Studio will open on Bromley High Street in the spring.
