IKEA Canada is celebrating on Friday October 2, 50 years of doing business in Canada and to mark the milestone the retailer will offer one iconic product at 50 per cent off every weekend in October.
IKEA Canada opened its first location in Richmond, B.C. on October 2, 1976. Today, IKEA Canada is part of Ingka Group which operates 574 IKEA stores in 31 countries, including 16 stores and 13 Plan and order points in Canada. Last year, IKEA Canada welcomed 33.3 million visitors to its stores and 199.9 million visitors to IKEA.ca.
This week the brand opened its first compact IKEA store in Canada. The new store concept, designed for quick visits and everyday essentials, is now open in White Oaks Mall.
“For 50 years, IKEA Canada has been part of everyday life at home — from first apartments and growing families to new routines, new spaces and new ways of living,” said Selwyn Crittendon, CEO and Chief Sustainability Officer, IKEA Canada. “As we mark this incredible milestone, we’re focused on what has always mattered most: making well-designed, functional home furnishing more affordable and accessible for the many Canadians. These October offers are a simple way to say thank you and help more people create a home that works better for them.”
“The best IKEA products are practical, personal and clever — they are designed to fit into real homes and real lives,” said Meghan Willisko, Head of Home Furnishing & Retail Design, IKEA Canada. “Products like BILLY and KALLAX have stayed relevant because they are flexible enough to grow and change with people. They help solve everyday needs, while leaving space for individual style, memories and that little bit of creativity that makes a home unmistakably yours.”
The first offer launches October 3 and 4, with 50 per cent off KALLAX (77 x 147 cm), the versatile shelving unit that has helped Canadians organize everything from books and records to toys, keepsakes and everyday essentials. Quantities are limited to 500 pieces per day. Conditions apply.
Full details are available at IKEA.ca/50, where each weekly offer will be unveiled.
The October anniversary offers are part of a broader 50th anniversary celebration, which includes IKEA Canada’s marketing campaign, You Give it Meaning, which launched on September 14 and will continue until November 8. As part of the celebration, IKEA Canada also hosted an experience in Toronto on September 25 featuring exhibits that showcased the history and legacy behind the brand in Canada, as well as the iconic IKEA products that have shaped Canadians’ life at home over the past five decades.
Earlier this week, thousands of London, Ontario residents welcomed the new IKEA Canada concept
“With the opening of IKEA London White Oaks – the first compact store in Canada – we’re thrilled to introduce an exciting new way to shop with us,” said Crittendon. “By combining inspiration, home essentials, and services in a compact format, we’re getting closer to more of the many Canadians with everyday convenience and a quicker shopping experience.”
Located at White Oaks Mall (1105 Wellington Road), the new London location offers:
- A compact layout of approximately 43,000 square feet (about one-fifth the size of IKEA Burlington) with more than 2,500 everyday essentials or seasonal favourites;
- Inspiring room sets and smart solutions for a better, more sustainable life at home;
- A selection of about 400 furniture items available for immediate purchase and takeaway from the Self-serve warehouse;
- The ability to order the full IKEA product offering with flexible delivery and collection options; and
- A selection of IKEA food for a taste of Swedishness (yes, including meatballs).
The new compact store concept complements other IKEA store formats and digital channels, strengthening the omnichannel experience and giving customers more ways to meet IKEA. The existing Plan and order point, located at 3120 Wonderland Rd. South, will continue to serve customers looking to book appointments with IKEA experts to plan, design, and purchase complex home furnishing solutions such as kitchens or complete wardrobe systems. The Pick-up location at 1095 Wilton Grove Rd. will also continue to operate, providing customers with a convenient place to collect orders placed through one of many IKEA shopping channels, explained the retailer.
More from Retail Insider:
