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Swedish furniture brand IKEA has undergone a one-year delay plan for the opening of its iconic store on Oxford Street in central London. Initially predicted to open by 2023, IKEA is pushing back the expected date to make the store more energy-efficient.
Ingka Group, the largest operator of IKEA retail, chose 214 Oxford Street for the construction of the Grade II listed building. Primarily, it has taken over the former location of Topshop’s flagship London site.
At the Grade II listed building, the project is unveiling its unique version of the signature blue Frakta carrier bag. Following this, the plan will cover a dimension of 128ft (39m) by 62ft (19m).
Moreover, the global home furnishing brand will cover a retail space of 82,000 sq ft. It is also set to construct a three-floor space and an additional four floors for office use.
Further, IKEA attributes this unexpected delay to the construction of more energy-efficient buildings. By installing heat pumps and double glazing, the company will replace non-renewable resources with renewable ones.
Peter van der Poel, the Managing Director at Ingka Investments, addresses this modification. “When refurbishing this over 100-year-old historic landmark, it’s important for us as an investor to treat the building with care and to preserve its characteristics and atmosphere. “At the same time, we want to upgrade it to today’s standards.”
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Besides making an eco-conscious approach, IKEA will unveil several job opportunities. As a result, this change in plan will add 150 jobs to the marketplace. The multinational conglomerate will offer 6,000 products on display, including IKEA coffee tables and bedroom furniture. Out of those displayed products, 3,000 will be available and ready to be picked.
In addition to that, a newly opened distribution centre at Dartford will roll out an electric vehicle delivery system. Under this, the company will deliver large furniture items directly to customers’ homes.
Due to the pandemic, many big names such as Topshop and Debenhams have bounced back from Oxford Street. Hence, the arrival of the IKEA chain will regain Oxford Street’s glory.
It’s a bold move by the brand to refurbish this century-old landmark. Thus, to make shopping more accessible, IKEA will soon establish the world’s most iconic destination for all shopping enthusiasts.
