IKEA stores to re-open this Monday

Home-furnishing retailer IKEA has announced that it will reopen its stores in Ballymun and Carrickmines in Dublin from Monday, May 17th 2021, following the re-opening of its stores in England and Wales on Monday 12th April, and in Scotland from 5th April. Since January 1st 2021, all non-essential retail operations in Ireland have remained closed, following the increase to Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions.

The company said in a statement that the health and safety of co-workers and customers remains its top priority. 

Ahead of welcoming customers back once again, the retailer will continue to implement a series of stringent safety measures to ensure the safety and comfort of co-workers and customers wanting to shop in-store. These measures include:

A new traffic light system to allow a limited numbers of customers entry in store at any one time

Social distance wardens to help customers and ensure social distancing is observed

Additional hand sanitiser facilities and more frequent deep cleaning routines for bags, trolleys, bathrooms, rest areas, equipment and touchscreens

Face coverings for co-workers and customers, unless exempt

Screens at key areas such as checkouts, service points and customer returns

In-store planning services with screens and social distancing measures in place

Disposable covers in mattress studio to enable customers to try products safely before purchase

Cashless payments, by card and contactless, preferred.

"In line with Government guidelines, all our play areas including Småland and our customer restaurants will remain closed. The Bistro, which operates a contact-free takeaway service, will be open with enhanced safety measures in place, including: two-metre distancing, screens, cashless payments only, and deeper and more frequent cleaning routines. The Swedish Food Market will also have these measures in place as well as a one-way system, so that much-loved food items can still be made at home."

Peter Jelkeby, UK&IE Country CEO and CSO said: “Over the past year, we've placed more demands on our homes than ever before, needing them to be spaces where we can live, work and play; fulfilling both our physical and emotional needs.

“Knowing that some of these shifts in our lifestyles will become increasingly permanent, we’re looking forward to supporting our customers in person once again, and helping to inspire their imaginations through creative and affordable solutions that help them to live a better and more sustainable everyday.”

To help cater to these new shopping behaviours, a number of initiatives were introduced to enable IKEA to meet its customers in more ways than ever before, including:

Remote kitchen, wardrobe and living room storage planning appointments, ensuring customers could still access IKEA’s home furnishing expertise

A new remote interior design service offering expert advice and bespoke plans from the comfort of home from €65 per room

The use of stores as local fulfilment and distribution centres, to increase capacity and reduce delivery lead times

A tiered pricing structure for orders based on size and speed of delivery, starting from €10.00

To ensure that customers can continue to shop with IKEA however they want; remote planning for kitchens and bedrooms, and interior design services will all remain available online. Click and Collect will also continue to operate at its Ballymun store, with customers able to pre-order their items online in advance and pick-up in store.

Peter Jelkeby, UK&IE Country CEO and CSO continues: “Changes made over the past year will be vital for securing the future success of our business, as we continue our ambition to create a better everyday life for the many people. Throughout the course of the pandemic, our co-workers have demonstrated incredible resilience and willingness to find our way through the crisis to help meet the needs of our customers in new ways. I am incredibly thankful to them for all they have accomplished.”