IKEA, Best Buy collaboration coming to south Austin store

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A Best Buy store in Austin will set aside 1,000 square feet later this year for a collaboration with furniture store IKEA, the companies announced this week.

The collaboration is a 10-store test run that will offer customers the chance to design and order custom kitchen and laundry rooms. This is a service offered at IKEA's full-sized store in Georgetown, Texas -- approximately 27 miles north of the U.S.- 290 Best Buy chosen for the pilot.

IKEA U.S. COO Rob Olson said in a Thursday press release that the collaboration is "a great step" towards helping homeowners build "beautiful, functional homes at a price they can afford."

“This partnership between IKEA and Best Buy is about making great design and functionality more accessible for the many,” Olson said. “By bringing together our home furnishing expertise, products, and services with Best Buy’s leadership in appliances and technology, we’re creating a one-stop destination where customers can design their dream kitchen, storage solutions or laundry space with ease."

That press release was jointly issued by the two companies. It cites a May 13 report from Capital One Shopping Research that claims 80% of all retail sales still go through brick and mortar locations.

Patrick McGinnis, chief merchandising officer at Best Buy, said in the release that the space will help customers make more informed decisions about their home.

“With this partnership, we get to combine technology and design and show shoppers what’s truly possible in their home like never before," McGinnis said.

The spaces will serve as showcase rooms, similar to ones at IKEA's showrooms. IKEA workers will be on-site to assist customers with the company's custom design process. Best Buy staff will aid in selecting kitchen and laundry appliances.

The companies didn't give a specific launch date for the Austin location, but instead said it would come in the fall.