Shoppers in China Rush IKEA After 7 Stores Announce Closures

Videos circulating online show shoppers scuffling over furniture at an Ikea outlet in China as the retailer prepares to close seven stores nationwide. The footage shows customers arguing and pulling at items such as trolleys and furniture during what appears to be clearance sales, while others continued browsing or removing stock from showroom floors. It remains unclear which specific Ikea location was filmed. Ikea announced on Jan. 7 that it will shut seven stores in China starting Feb. 2, including locations in suburban Shanghai, Guangzhou, and second-tier cities such as Nantong, Xuzhou, and Harbin. The closures are part of Ikea’s shift from large-scale expansion to more targeted growth in major markets like Beijing and Shenzhen, alongside a stronger focus on online sales. The company currently operates around 40 stores in mainland China and plans to open more than 10 smaller outlets over the next two years, with new stores in Dongguan and Beijing expected in early 2026. Online reactions to the footage were largely critical, with some users noting that furniture can easily be purchased through Chinese e-commerce platforms. 📽️Video by: Gabe Jung 🤳Click our linkinbio to sign up to our daily newsletter.⁠ ⁠⁠ 📰Follow us for the latest Asian News @NextShark⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #news #reel #ikea #china #retail #storeclosures #shopping #clearancesale #viralvideo #businessnews #chinanews #retailindustry #furniture #consumers #ecommerce #onlineshopping #taobao #pinduoduo #marketshift #economy #corporatenews #globalbusiness #asia #trending #socialmedia #storeclosing #supplychain