When the pandemic hit, people who wanted to redecorate their houses with Ikea furniture turned to the online store, as all physical shops were closed. However, the Swedish furniture giant had trouble keeping up with the number of packages, as they were being delivered one or several days later.
Nevertheless, Ikea has managed to more than double its online sales since the pandemic and therefore announced that it will now be focusing on e-commerce.
Ikea’s warehouses will be redesigned or enlarged, to create a faster and more efficient way of preparing parcels.
“With this investment, we aim to secure the long-term viability of our business by making IKEA more accessible, more affordable and more sustainable,” says Tolga Öncü, Retail Operations Manager, Ingka Group in a press release.
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The Ikea distribution centre in Genk will be used for larger e-commerce shipments, such as kitchens. Smaller packages will be available in the shop.
This investment is a big step for Ikea to improve the shopping experience, next to previous adjustments. Last year, Ikea launched a new app and revamped its website, making it more accessible to online shoppers.
By the end of next year, Ikea will be investing more than €3 billion in new and existing stores. It is not yet known how much it will invest in Belgian stores.
