Swedish home-furnishings giant Ikea has announced it will be opening a new location in south-end Barrie this summer.
Similar to the "design studio" at Georgian Mall in the city's north end, the company says the new store at the SmartCentres Barrie South shopping centre will continue to meet the "growing demand for this personalized service," which is referred to as its plan and order point network.
The SmartCentres Barrie South shopping centre is located at 35 Mapleview Dr. W., near Highway 400.
The new Barrie store will bring the total number to eight such locations across Canada.
"Plan and order points are one of the many ways Ikea Canada is making affordable home furnishing products and services more accessible, allowing customers to get support from Ikea experts to plan, order and purchase complex home furnishing solutions for the kitchen, bedroom, bath and living room," the company said on its website.
Ikea says its plan and order points offer walk-in and appointment-based planning services where customers can sit down with an Ikea representative to plan "complex purchases," such as kitchen or bedroom storage projects.
Products are not available for immediate takeaway at plan and order points. Instead, customers can "explore and discover a curated selection of IKEA solutions to meet their home furnishing needs." Once their order is placed, customers can have it delivered directly to their homes or to a local Ikea pick-up point.
In March 2022, Ikea opened its small-format design studio at Georgian Mall on Bayfield Street. It offers one-on-one consultation services for kitchen design, bedroom projects, small space living solutions, to name just a few.
The company also says new plan and order points will open next month in London, Ont., and Lachenaie, Que.
The London store will open its doors on March 6, while the Lachenaie store will welcome customers on March 20.
“Our recent Ikea Life at Home report has shown that up to 50 per cent of Canadians are looking to either move or renovate their homes in the next two years, and we want to support them by providing affordable and inspiring home furnishing solutions that meet the evolving needs of their homes,” Inna Romagnoli, country business development and transformation manager for Ikea Canada, said in the release.
“We’re excited to bring an elevated planning experience to our London and Lachenaie neighbours and help them take the guess work out of planning the space of their dreams," Romagnoli added.
Ikea Canada is also looking to hire new employees. Click here for more information.
