Ikea to open 10 new city centre stores in Britain |
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Tue, 10 Jan 2006 20:05
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LONDON: Swedish retail chain Ikea will open 10 new city centre stores in Britain, spending 1 billion pounds in the next three years, the company accounted Tuesday. The company's British operations head Peter Hogsted said the plan has scope to create some 10,000 jobs. It will be part of the Swedish company's strategy to enter the traditional British high street, as existing rules prevent it from having large out-of-town stores.
Hogsted said the only way the company can expand in the U.K. is close to city centres. "Our preferred location is outside cities, but we have realised that we need to comply with U.K. planning requirements." The company tried to open some 14 out-of-town shops, but the proposal was overruled by the planners.
Ikea, well known for its flat pack furniture, will launch a website in about six months and shoppers in some parts of Britain will be able to buy goods online. The company also intends to introduce its home furnishings.
Hogsted said the first innercity store will open in Coventry next year. It has got permission to open a 30,000 sq. metre store and has acquired the Midland Cooperative superstore, where it will build the city centre.
He said it is more expensive to open inner city stores, each with an area of up to 15,000 sq. metre, but the company had no other alternative. This may mean that its low prices could go up as it sets shop.
With regard to the company’s online shopping plans, Hogsted said Ikea will set up a portal and test it softly in the summer and autumn before going full scale next year. At the moment, the company does not have any online shopping facility.
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Mrs |
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Tue, 04 Sep 2007 20:20:29 GMT (
EELY ) |
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Yes please , we love going to ikea but it has to be a plainned day out as so far away, We live on the south coast, Brighton area would be brilliant.
We are waiting |
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good news |
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Fri, 30 Mar 2007 22:46:40 GMT (
cd ) |
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i've heard this too - they're building it at the business park round the back of where the cinema is and feltham community school
hope they hurry up! |
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mrs c,grist |
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Fri, 16 Feb 2007 11:41:42 GMT (
christinegrist ) |
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i was told that we are having ikea being built in feltham middx i hope this is true because my family and friends love shopping at ikea but it is difficult to get to the stores as muuch as we wouldwish ,please tell me it is true |
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IKEA plans new store in Hillingdon, west London 