Independents prepare to ‘put their tin hats on’ as clock ticks down on Ikea opening

12th January | retail | Swedish home furnishings giant Ikea will this week take in the first furniture deliveries at its new Southampton store, which is due to open a month today.

The £80m store, which is the retail giant’s first full scale British outlet in a city location, is expected to draw trade from across the south coast and has left independents fearful for their future.

One Southampton retailer, who didn’t want to be named, said it was time to ‘put on the tin hats’ as he admitted trade was already extremely tough. ‘We are very worried about the impact the Ikea store will have on our business.’

At the moment, consumers in Dorset and Hampshire have to travel as far as Croydon or Bristol to shop at Ikea.

The 32,000sqm store will employ 500 staff and is one of two Ikea stores opening in 2009 – the other being in Dublin.