Preston latest NW location for IKEA’s Plan & Order Point store network

Swedish retail giant, IKEA, has opened its third Plan & Order Point store in the North West, this time in Preston.

The format 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. Fifteen jobs have been created with the latest opening.

IKEA initially launched its smaller outlets 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.

It operates two major stores in Warrington and Ashton-under-Lyne.

The latest Plan & Order Point is situated in Deepdale Retail Park with a showroom that spans more than 1,300 sq ft. 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, 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.”

Sir Mark Hendrick, Labour 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.”