Hyderabad was home to India’s first IKEA location. Why did you decide to enter this industry when we still consider carpenters to be the best choice for any type of furniture?
The entire range is designed in a design centre with designers and product developers sitting in Elmhurst, which is the home of IKEA in Sweden; it is a worldwide design team. We have been sourcing our items in India for 40 years; it was a big secret. They represent a diverse range of countries and create and develop goods with a global audience, thus they are not all Swedes.
Before a product may be sold in any market anywhere in the globe, it must first pass several requirements. Then, from a retail viewpoint, accessibility is really what IKEA is all about. India was recognized as a major market because of its enormous population, but it was also seen as a market that was expanding and changing swiftly since we’ve been in places like China, which are large countries. Travel has an impact on people’s preferences, aspirations, and dreams. Indians have been to locations like Dubai or other locations like Singapore and Europe, where they have visited IKEA and enjoyed the products. We don’t recommend that you use our product throughout your entire house. It’s all about blending, so you might create your style by using a wonderful mix of our products and those created locally. IKEA had a waiting list. Gaining entry into the market takes time.
There are numerous rules and other guidelines. Fortunately, since we were already present as a sourcing firm, some help was available. But the demand is exactly what matters. In Hyderabad, where we first started, I believe it was pretty well-known. As the sole retailer in India, it was unquestionable. It was so crowded; I have no idea how many people were there. Beginning somewhere else can occasionally be advantageous and serve as a teaching moment for us. There are a variety of opinions about IKEA throughout the states. When it came to talking with the State and locating a suitable location, Hyderabad just seemed to move more quickly. Hyderabad was the first door to be opened. However, everyone was most enthused about Mumbai’s potential, so I joined when the Big Blue Box, Mumbai’s first store, opened in Navi Mumbai even though we all knew it was outside the city.
Since our distribution centre is located in Pune, the large store also serves as a fulfilment hub for the smaller ones. All commodities, whether imported or domestic, arrive in Mumbai and are then shipped from there to Pune, which is subsequently shipped to Hyderabad and Bangalore. The large store also houses a sizable warehouse that can accommodate large orders, as well as the small store’s stock, needs daily.
Follow and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn & Twitter
