Photo: Mega Bangna
Three years after its DIY furniture megastore opened in Bang Na to create a new national addiction, Ikea says it has big plans for the future.
At an event Tuesday promoting its latest catalog, an Ikea representative said 10 new stores are planned for Southeast Asia during the next decade, two of which will be in the Thai capital.
The challenge, according to Bang Na Store Manager Lacia Sherlock, is finding the land for their sprawling retail space, according to ScandAsia.com. There’s a lot of competition for land, Sherlock said, but once the right spot is secured, a store will follow in about two years.
Ikea’s growth in Thailand far exceeded its expectations. The firm experienced 13 percent growth in 2013, 7 percent higher than expected. Ikea expects to grow around 6.5 percent this year.
Sherlock explained that Thais have grown accustomed to Ikea’s self-service concept, as only three percent of the customers use the delivery and assembly service.
Ikea Thailand is operated by Ikano Thailand Ltd., which is owned by Ikano Singapore, which is fully owned by Ikano Luxembourg.
