BIZ BUZZ: Ikea expands to the north
Sweden-based home furnishing brand Ikea will open on Oct 23 its first Plan and Order Shop in the Philippines at the Ayala Group’s TriNoma Mall in Quezon City, in a bid to bring its products closer to target customers in the north.
But if Paul Birkett, chief operating officer of Ayala Malls, will have his way, he would love to have a full-size Ikea branch at TriNoma and in other malls under the Ayala Group. That dream, however, will have to remain just that for the meantime.
According to Ikea Philippines country retail manager Ricardo Pinheiro, the possibility of having a new branch is always there, but for now, the priority is to make a success out of the P35-million, 500-square-meter Plan and Order Shop, where customers can pick up their online orders or shop for bestselling Ikea items, particularly from the kitchen, dining and home organizing segments.
The small-scale store also provides customers with space to plan their dream kitchens, wardrobes and living areas with the help of in-house experts who can provide free advice, as offered from Ikea’s flagshop store in Pasay City, which remains the world’s largest standalone Ikea branch.
“The new Plan and Order Shop at TriNoma reflects our Democratic Design philosophy and offers a convenient alternative for those who live in the north of Metro Manila,” Pinheiro said.”
Pinheiro shared that while the possibility of setting up a new branch continues to be discussed, Ikea will pursue more immediate plans, which include possibly doubling the sales of its fresh plants, which it secures locally, and bringing local textiles to the Philippine market.
