Best Buy Partners with Ikea to Test Retail Space Utilization Strategy
Best Buy has launched an innovative pilot program by inviting Ikea to set up 1,000-square-foot showrooms in 10 of its U.S. locations. The collaboration, the first of its kind for Ikea in the U.S., features kitchen and laundry room displays staffed by Ikea employees alongside Best Buy appliances. CEO Corie Barry framed the MOVE as a response to shifting consumer habits and excess retail space.
The partnership reflects a broader trend of retailers reimagining physical footprints in the e-commerce era. While competitors like Target and Walmart repurpose stores for order fulfillment, Best Buy's approach leverages brand synergies—a strategy Barry suggests could attract other partners seeking to "meet customer needs in a changing environment."