The Swedish retailer is shifting its strategy after testing a new store format. Here’s what customers need to know.
IKEA has announced the closure of two UK locations, both part of its newer, smaller “Plan and Order Point” store format. The decision comes just months after launching the concept in select cities as a way to bring home furnishing support closer to more customers.
The closures will affect:
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Aintree Plan and Order Point in Liverpool
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IKEA Stockport in Merseyway Shopping Centre
Both stores will permanently shut their doors on June 16.
What Was the Plan and Order Point Format?
These smaller-format stores were designed to offer:
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Personalised kitchen and bedroom planning services
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Home furnishing advice
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A curated showroom experience—without the full warehouse selection
The Aintree location, which opened in December 2022 at the Aintree Racecourse Retail Park, was the first UK trial of this “test and learn” concept. Stockport followed not long after.
Why Is IKEA Closing These Stores?
According to IKEA, the closures are based on “valuable insights” gained from customer behaviour during the trials.
A spokesperson explained:
“We’ve seen increased demand for Click and Collect, a preference for shopping a smaller selection of home accessories, and the importance of being able to return items in-store—services these trial locations couldn’t fully offer due to space limitations.”
Rather than scrap the idea entirely, IKEA is using this feedback to reshape future openings, ensuring new Plan and Order Points better meet UK customer expectations.
What Happens Now for Local Shoppers?
Customers from Liverpool and Stockport still have several IKEA options:
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Click & Collect: Available at local Tesco Extra sites including
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Birkenhead
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Arrowe Park
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Stockport
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Stretford
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Nearest full-size stores:
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Warrington for Liverpool-area shoppers
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Ashton-under-Lyne for Stockport customers
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New locations coming soon:
IKEA is set to open a new small-format store in Chester later this year.
What’s Next for IKEA’s UK Strategy?
Despite these closures, IKEA is doubling down on experimenting with new formats. Future Plan and Order Point stores in Dundee, York, and Hull will be upgraded to include:
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Accessory shopping
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Returns and Click & Collect services
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Enhanced planning consultations
The brand remains committed to bringing IKEA’s design expertise closer to urban centres—just with more flexibility and better customer service options.
The Takeaway
IKEA’s closure of its Aintree and Stockport stores isn’t a retreat—it’s a pivot. The company is adjusting its in-town retail strategy based on what customers want: more convenience, better service, and integrated online-offline experiences.
While these two stores will go dark, the insights they provided are lighting the way forward.
source : https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/ikea-closing-two-uk-stores-10266666