Ikea is planning to open 50 stores despite e-shopping growth

 

With the coronavirus and the growth of e-commerce, several retailers have been moving online. Indeed, a lot of physical stores have closed, some completely and others to focus on their digital activities. This is because of a change in consumer habits. Nonetheless, as surprising as this may sound, Ikea is doing just the opposite. The firm has announced that it is going to open 50 more outlets.

The new shops will be in several locations across the world, including in the UK. They are going to be an addition to the 445 stores that the brand currently operates. Despite the lockdown, the furniture firm revealed that demand was rising. This is because consumers were renovating or making changes to their house while they were stuck at home. The increase in sales is much better than what bosses anticipated.

Jesper Brodin, boss of Ingka Group, a franchise company that is responsible for the majority of Ikea shops, advanced, “We were expecting a gradual ramp-up in our business [when our stores began to reopen around the world], but we like many others were absolutely wrong”. Ever since they re-opened, people have been coming back. Thus, Ingka plans to have 30 new outlets welcoming customers in the next 12 months, one of which will be in Hammersmith, London.

Ikea is working on more store openings © Royalty-free image