Ikea has posted higher losses after stores were forced to close due to lockdowns but it is looking to expand in the high street.
The UK arm generated £32mln losses during the year to August 2020, up from £2mln in 2019, while total sales dropped 10% to £1.9bn.
The share of online sales increased to 27% of the total from 19% in 2019.
As people adjusted to working from home trends, searches for small desks rocketed 322%, topping the list of the most searched for item on Ikea’s website from March to June.
Buoyed by the home improvement trend, faux plants and TV stands were also hugely popular, with searches up 795% and 112% respectively.
The Swedish furniture giant said it is looking to become more accessible to city centre residents, and will soon open London’s Hammersmith small-format store, which will focus on home furnishing accessories and furniture planning.
It is also launching the ‘Buy Back’ scheme when shops are allowed to reopen in April, the BBC reported.
The programme, which was delayed because of the pandemic, allows customers to exchange second-hand Ikea items for vouchers to use in the shop.