As big-box retailers seek to diversify consumer shopping experiences through multiple formats, Ikea has joined the trend by introducing smaller-footprint stores. This approach, while not new, has been adopted by retailers like Target, Macy's, Nordstrom, and Walmart, showing that smaller formats can cater to a more affluent demographic and better fit specific market needs.
Ikea's traditional stores often span 300,000 square feet, but the company has opened an 8,800-square-foot store in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Two more smaller-footprint locations opened recently in Alpharetta, Georgia, and South Charlotte, North Carolina, bringing the total to 11. These stores aim to offer a more personalized shopping experience and bring the brand closer to customers