Ikea, Best Buy Debut Experiential In-Store Home Design Centers
Ikea U.S. and Best Buy have officially launched their first cross-brand retail experiences, now open at select stores across Texas and Florida.
The initiative, announced in August, marks a milestone in both retailers’ efforts to create more immersive, convenient shopping experiences that merge design and technology under one roof.
The move is also part of a growing trend among retailers to create immersive, experiential shopping formats that combine complementary product categories.
The “Ikea at Best Buy” shop-in-shops feature curated kitchen and laundry room vignettes that pair Ikea’s furnishings with Best Buy’s assortment of major appliances. Shoppers can explore complete room setups and work with Ikea team members to plan their spaces, while Best Buy associates provide guidance on the latest home technology.
“This partnership is about bringing great design, functionality and affordability closer to the many,” Javier Quinones, CEO and chief sustainability officer, Ikea U.S., said in a media release. “For the first time in the U.S., Ikea products will be available through another retailer, which is a big step forward on our journey to create a better everyday life for the many people.”
The co-branded planning centers are now open at Florida Best Buy stores in Boynton Beach, Lakeland, Melbourne, Waterford Lakes and Daytona Beach, as well as in Alamo Ranch, Texas. Additional locations in Mesquite, Hulen and South Austin, Texas, will open later this month, followed by Humble, Texas, this winter.
Two stores — Lakeland, Florida; and Alamo Ranch, Texas — also serve as Ikea product pickup points, allowing shoppers to retrieve most Ikea.com orders for free at the Best Buy locations.
To mark the launch, opening events at Alamo Ranch and Waterford Lakes included remarks from Ikea and Best Buy executives, exclusive giveaways and guided experiences highlighting the collaboration’s focus on accessibility, inspiration and convenience.
The expanded partnership reflects both retailers’ ongoing strategies to meet customers where they are — blending digital and physical retail, home design and technology.
For Best Buy, the concept also aligns with a broader effort of creating immersive, experiential in-store environments. Recent examples include “GameTruck Theaters” for Nintendo Switch 2, which brought interactive gaming setups to over 100 stores. Also, the Intel-powered “Battle Stations” for PC gaming, which offers hands-on demos and AI-assisted planning tools.
These experiences, like Ikea at Best Buy, are designed to deepen customer engagement, allow hands-on exploration and provide personalized guidance.
