IKEA opens first small format store in Germany

Global furniture and accents retailer IKEA has opened another smaller format store and its first in Germany.

The shop — a 194,000sqft showroom in Bremerhaven — employs around 150 people and becomes the retailer’s 49th store in Germany.

IKEA has been testing new formats including smaller shops (its standard store size is circa 300,000sqft) though it is yet to try out the decreased store footprint in the UK.

The Bremerhaven shop represents an investment of around €40m and — despite its smaller size — still carries the firm’s entire product range, with less duplication across the in-store room sets.

Environmental considerations figure heavily, with IKEA having installed photovoltaic systems on the roof to capture solar energy to power the store as well featuring a planted wall. Customers with electric cars and bikes can also recharge them at designated sites in the car park.

Source : The Furnishing Report
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