(SPOT.ph) Unless you've been living under a rock, you know by now that IKEA is opening their first store in the Philippines in 2021 at the SM Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City—in fact, you're probably counting down the days. We recently showed you what the gargantuan store will look like when it opens as well as popular pieces you may want to shop from the Swedish furniture purveyor. Plus, in case you missed it, IKEA's online shop will open ahead of its physical store, so you'll be able to start stocking up on gorgeous Scandinavian home items sooner than you think. And just when we thought it couldn't get any more exciting, here's even more news to look forward to: Besides the Metro Manila branch, IKEA is also interested to open stores in other provinces in the Philippines including Iloilo, Cebu, Cagayan De Oro, Baguio, and Davao!
According to a video posted on Facebook by Bloomberg TV Philippines in 2018, "IKEA is looking to open four to six locations in the country in the next five to 10 years, ranging in size from the traditional big-box stores to small retail outlets."
However, final locations for the subsequent IKEA branches are yet to be set in stone. IKEA Philippines' Market Development Manager Georg Platzer notes that finding the right spot to put up the outlet is critical as the store would need "a very well-developed infrastructure, roads, public transport, and electricity supply" because they expect a lot of visitors. They would also need "a good logistics network" due to the large amount of goods being transported from overseas to the Philippines.
Though no location for the next IKEA store has been announced, according to Iloilo Today, the Swedish ambassador to the Philippines Harald Fries shared that he would "tell [his] friends from IKEA that they should look into Iloilo City because it is a good place for them," after he visited the region in March 2019.
If the first IKEA branch in the Philippines is any indication, these next few stores may take some time to be finalized and opened—especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Either way, we can't wait to see every IKEA store that opens in the country in the next coming years!
In the meantime, here are some of the things we're most excited about in the first IKEA branch in the Philippines:
It will be the largest IKEA store in the world
Spanning about 65,000 square meters, the first IKEA store in the Philippines will also be the world's largest IKEA. "A typical IKEA store is around 35,000 square meters. The one we have designed will be around 65,000 square meters. That's equivalent to more than 150 basketball courts," shares Christian Rojkjaer, Managing Director of IKEA Southeast Asia. Though the shop floor is more or less the same as other IKEA stores in the world, the overall size is bigger because of the store's large warehouse, e-commerce facility, and integrated call center.
The store will be linked to the mall
If you're worried about having a hard time getting to IKEA from the mall, you can breathe easy. The IKEA store will be linked to the mall through direct walkways, making it super accessible to mall goers.
There will be a play area for children
While you're busy shopping, you can drop the little ones off at the IKEA Playroom. Don't worry, it's supervised so you can be sure they'll be safe and sound while you're doing some shopping.
Yes, IKEA Philippines will house an IKEA Restaurant
In case you didn't know, every IKEA store in the world houses its own full-service restaurant, so the same can be said about the highly anticipated IKEA store in Manila. Now we're even more excited to finally be able to enjoy the Swedish furniture brand's famous meatballs without having to leave the country!
There will be over 9,000 products to shop in the store
IKEA fans will be pleased to know that IKEA Philippines will offer more than 9,000 products in store and online. We already don't know where to begin!
And yup, you can expect the same wallet-friendly price points
Because it just doesn't make sense if they double or triple the prices of IKEA's popular DIY furniture. "We always strive to offer the lowest prices in the market to make sure that our range is affordable for as many people as possible," shares Georg Platzer, Market Development Manager (and future IKEA Store Manager in Manila).
We can't wait for 2021 and we feel you! Here is where to shop IKEA If You Can't Wait for 2021.
For more information, log on to IKEA Philippines' website.
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