Monday 24th July 2023, marked the opening of the IKEA Plan & Order Point in Preston, Lancashire. The Plan & Order Point is a smaller store dedicated to kitchen and bedroom planning, which customers can visit for home furnishing advice and expertise to help design their ideal space.
The launch marks the third opening of this format in the North West of England, following its introduction in Aintree last December and Stockport in March. This comes as part of the retailer’s ongoing transformation to become more accessible for customers shopping with IKEA across the region.
The Plan & Order Point is situated in Deepdale Retail Park with a showroom that spans over 120 sqm/ 1,300 sqft. It will also house a Click and Collect space, meaning that customers can order any IKEA product, either online or with help of co-workers in the Plan & Order Point, and pick it up from the unit, free of charge.
Despite being smaller than a standard IKEA store, it is packed with inspirational and affordable kitchen and wardrobe solutions. Customers will find a selection of different kitchens to browse, such as a complete kitchen, including oven and hob, for £1,200. Additionally, IKEA will showcase all of its kitchen fronts, worktops and a variety of appliances from the wider range. There is also a space dedicated to the PAX wardrobe system, with doors, interior organisers, and knobs and handles to help customers build their dream storage solution.
Michael Parker, Area Manager, IKEA UK, said: “Today, we start our journey to be much closer to the people in Lancashire. At the new IKEA Preston Plan & Order Point, customers can get kitchen inspiration and expert advice as well as the possibility to click and collect anything from the full IKEA range.
“In a year when IKEA celebrates its 80th birthday, the North West is extra special to us, being home to our first UK store in Warrington. With Plan & Order points in Aintree, Stockport and now Preston, our existing full size stores in nearby Ashton-under-Lyne and Warrington, collection points, home planning and remote and digital services, we are enabling an IKEA where customers can shop in the most convenient way for them.”
The new store has been carefully designed based on insights around how customers in Preston want their dream kitchens brought to life. People in the area have shown a preference for kitchens in traditional styles, often in a U-shape. White is the most popular colour, and those opting for a modern style kitchen, often select a sleek, high gloss white front like our VOXTORP door.
However, lately IKEA have seen people choosing bolder yet contemporary colours, such as the AXSTAD blue and STENSUND green. IKEA’s wood veneer and wood effect worktops have also proven the most popular to give kitchens that timeless, finishing touch along with great sustainability with our wood veneer worktop options.
Customers can book an appointment, free of charge, to start their design journey with one of IKEA’s planning specialists or use the handy in-store self-service tools to design their own solution. Co-workers will also be on hand to help customers order products from the full IKEA range, for delivery direct to the customer’s home or nearest collection point.
Sir Mark Hendrick, MP for Preston, said: “I am thrilled that IKEA’s new Plan & Order Point has opened here today in Preston. This represents the latest investment in our great community which I am confident will continue to create more opportunity. It is great to see IKEA providing good quality jobs across the North West of England.”
The Plan & Order Point in Preston follows the opening of a Plan & Order Point in Aintree, Liverpool in December, and Stockport, Greater Manchester, the first of their kind in the UK.
