Here's what to expect from IKEA Philippines' soon-to-open online store
We’re getting closer and closer to the opening of IKEA Philippines!
After the team set up its official website just recently, we at PhilSTAR L!FE interviewed their development manager Georg Platzer about what they have in store for Filipinos in terms of virtual shopping before the launch of IKEA's physical store in the second half of the year,
While it's not their priority to make IKEA food available in the digital store at the moment, Platzer said that almost all the 9,500 home items that will be sold in their physical shop will also be available online. “I would say only minor parts of our range will not be sold on the website—the ones that are not really easy to sell online, having in mind that you need to transport them like mirrors and products made out of glass,” he shared.
With only one branch under construction in Pasay City (for now), many people in different parts of the Philippines are looking forward to having IKEA products delivered to their homes. “I have people already calling me from Boracay on when I can sell some products to them!” Platzer said with a laugh.
Platzer admitted that they are preparing for the challenges—mostly logistics-wise—that may come with selling their IKEA products online in the country. “We’re new here. We know the operations but every country has different circumstances, every country has different challenges,” he explained. “I’m thankful we found the right partners for all these logistic tasks and they’re just about to get ready for our corporation.”
What’s their plan, then? With a strong demand foreseen in its products, the Swedish company will focus on delivering their items in the Greater Manila area at the start. “From there, step-by-step, we will expand until we’re able to cover the whole Philippines, which will take time, a little bit, but it’s going to come, for sure,” he said.
Article thumbnails courtesy of IKEA