IKEA is coming to Thailand
It had to happen sometime. IKEA with already more than 300 branches in 37 countries is coming to Thailand.
There are 6 IKEA stores in Belgium and 12 in the Netherlands. The originally Swedish company is known for affordable furniture and home furnishings. You often have to assemble the furniture yourself on the basis of a detailed manual.
In Thailand, an IKEA store is being built, where an assortment of 40.000 articles will be offered on a space of 4.000 m². An ideal location has been chosen for this branch, which will be officially opened at the latest at the end of this year, namely at the intersection of the outer ring road with the Bang Na-Trat Road, just over 20 km from the center of Bangkok and 60 kilometers from the provincial capital of Chonburi.
IKEA will be part of the Mega Bangna shopping mall. The project developer Siam Future Development will invest another 254 billion baht in further development on an area of 12,5 Rai. In addition to IKEA, another cinema center, Big C Supercenter and HomePro will be built in the center. Attention will also be paid to shops for fashion, lifestyle, IT, entertainment and restaurants. There will be parking space for 1.300 cars and 700 people can eat at the same time in the restaurants.
The furniture that IKEA Thailand will be selling is mainly manufactured in Thailand. What is perhaps not so well known is that IKEA has had furniture made in Thailand for a number of years, the value of which is estimated at more than billion baht per year.
The history of the world-famous multinational furniture retailer began in 1943 in the small village of Agunnaryd in southern Sweden, when founder Ingvar Kamprad was just 17 years old. As a name he chose IKEA; a composition of the founder's initials (IK) and the first letters of Elmtaryd and Agunnaryd, respectively the farm and the village where he grew up. The range is still being developed and expanded in Sweden; it is modern, but does not follow every trend, functional, yet attractive and high quality, very suitable for children. It is a model of the Swedish way of life in its choice of fresh colors and materials.
Last year, 626 million people visited IKEA stores around the world. The group has 127.000 employees, of which 103.500 in Europe, 15.500 in North America and 8.000 in Asia/Australia. Sales in the 2010 financial year amounted to between 21,5 and 23,1 billion euros, 79% of which were achieved in Europe. North America accounts for 15% and Asia/Australia participates for 6%.
Founder Ingvar Kamprad once said: “The public that visits IKEA does not drive flashy cars and do not stay in expensive hotels”. So for all Thais and Farangs to whom this description applies, a pleasant day at IKEA awaits.
What do people have with Ikea?
Personally, I find it horrifying.
Of course I've been there a few times, but what a situation.
Do you buy such a kit, and then you find out at home that a screw is missing, or that the pre-drilled holes are not in the right place........ okay, only to find out later that I have turned the board upside down have.
A lot of hassle to put something together.
Don't understand that there are people who "cosy" go to Ikea for a day.
Can't remember where it was, Doha or Dubai, believe the latter.
Oh, how happy the expat women were that there was an Ikea.
Could they go shopping? gadver.
But anyway, this is a personal opinion, and I wish those who are going good luck.
You're not the only one. What a disaster. I can remember from the Netherlands that you could also stand in traffic jams if you went on the weekend, a fun day out for the whole family. Terrible indeed.
I do not believe that the Thais are waiting for this now "Ikea"
There are plenty of furniture stores in Thailand, and here in Pattaya where they stock the cheaper furniture in large numbers.
Cabinets in all shapes and sizes, and very low priced.
I also have them myself, wardrobes, the advantage is that if you buy it from such a store that it is already assembled and that it will be delivered immediately and placed where you want it.
In my case the cabinet did not fit in the elevator, was dismantled and reassembled upstairs.
Tip to the men, and everyone happy.
In my Dutch time I assembled and installed an Ikea kitchen a few times, you have to do everything yourself, even the drawers are kits.
just cheap junk, fiberboard..
get the containers ready….
That will be something with that Thai.
Usually people first throw the user manual aside and just start something. (ha ha)
The same applies to instructions for use of equipment.
Well well what a comment everyone I believe that many people only remember from a gray past nowadays things are a bit better and they are mainly known for their cheap breakfasts for € 1, - but the Hema also has that nowadays at least if you come before 10 am.
They are best known for their affordable furniture. Last year I bought a beautiful standing table lamp for € 8, consisting of 3 parts that you can easily assemble. Yes, not everyone can afford everything, right? If you purchase a free family card, you can also drink unlimited free coffee and buy many items at a discount. Kitchen utensils are also cheap.
Dear Peter, you are talking about Ikea in the Netherlands, the blog is about an Ikea in Thailand.
The Thai really does not go there for breakfast or drink coffee with the family card.
They won't buy mood lights for 400 baht either, but they will hang a TL bar.
Welcome IKEA. Beautiful on this blog. 5 out of 6 comments are negative 626 million people visited IKEA last year. So they are wrong! It seems that only people respond here who want to whine. If you don't want to then don't go! I myself own a Thai furniture store together with my girlfriend and to be honest that's just junk that we sell. Also just chipboard with a layer of paper. Respond less negatively. life becomes more pleasant.
yes, we will look on the positive side, maybe we can eat well there for 50bat
Well, one complains about IKEA, the other about negative reactions. So we all have something. 😉
Idea furniture has been with us in Phitsanulok for years. When I drive past it I always have to smile, what and smart choice of name. But watch out now comes the real one. I do believe in it, here also many [wealthier] students. they want it, just watch it. And the fact that the quality is not good is really outdated.
i regularly read here that we should respect the thai but that this also doesn't seem to count for us dutch people so many negative reactions here you have missed in life that one has more to spend than the other because he just got to learn or could learn better or inheritance lottery in short, respect your fellow countrymen in the choice they make and try to take into account that there are enough people who have to make do with a little less
jay
I don't believe the people who buy from Ikea are mentioned at all in the comments above, it's all about Ikea products, let alone disrespecting this group of customers. On the contrary, I have been there myself and have great admiration for those who first get stuck in a traffic jam, then have to fight for a parking space, then have to make their way through a commercially cleverly designed shopping route, then have to go into the warehouse, then having to queue at the checkout, then loading the car and then having to put everything together at home. Hats off! God forbid that a screw is indeed missing after this exercise. 😉
It is also extremely stupid to visit Ikea in NL at the weekend, all Ikea's here are open until 21 p.m. on weekdays.
Ikea is a worldwide success due to a crystallized well-thought-out philosophy.
They also want to open a second and third Ikea around Bangkok in the near future
In almost every house in the Netherlands you can find something from Ikea……………
What do people have with it?? I think enough with over twenty billion turnover, you should do the accounting for it 😉
Absolute top company, founded by Ingvar Kamprad, a man I have deep respect for. Still goes to his own shops in a private jet, but in the country itself he gets there with the NS or a variant. Service is great and screws are no longer missing.
Henk does not think that Thailand is waiting for this………… I am afraid that a study has preceded it.
Ingvar once said that the Ikea customer does not have a flashy car, no longer true. Cayenne, X-5 and BMWs up to the seven series, they can all be found on the loading zone these days.
The best are the enthusiasts who come to get laminate for three houses with a Mini !!
Last year I saw a job advertisement from Ikea-Thailand. Images of chairs in different designs. A nice leather one for the managers and a simple one for the warehouse employee. The text was something like; which chair will you be sitting in? Completely adapted to the country, of course. Only with a chair you lure the home lazy Thai…………
Their brochure the most printed in the world, ever read anywhere
Don't expect a Thai to work with a screwdriver and a hammer. LOL!! And that Ikea trade is quickly lost in Thai, whether or not eaten by the insects.
Ikea "runs" all over the world, why wouldn't it "run" in Thailand?
Is Thailand so special, you certainly don't believe that yourself?
It's a very good concept and all the preconceptions here are very dated.
Well, it is certainly not quality. If you really want to furnish your home with this in Thailand, you have my blessing. The linen feels like sandpaper, the light output of the energy lamps is abnormally poor, etc. Anyway, Thailand has enough space to build, but this does not feel like Thailand.