In a heartening development for furniture enthusiasts in North India, IKEA, the beloved Swedish furniture retailer, is set to introduce its online delivery services in Gurugram next year. The news comes straight from the desk of IKEA India’s CEO, Susanne Pulverer, who shared the eagerly awaited updates during an interview with Business Standard on Wednesday.
Gurugram will soon emerge as the pioneer location in North India to experience IKEA’s seamless online delivery services, joining the ranks of cities like Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Surat, and Vadodara, where the company currently operates. This strategic move marks another significant step in the brand’s expansion across the Indian subcontinent.
Pulverer, speaking on the sidelines of the 27th World Investment Conference (WIC) in New Delhi, shared, “For Gurugram, we will give an exact timeline soon. But we are looking to open the offline store within the next two years and online sales in the next one year.”
The renowned furniture giant had previously announced its ambitious plans to establish two stores in Delhi-NCR, with a whopping investment of approximately Rs 10,500 crore. Presently boasting five stores across the country, IKEA’s growth trajectory in India is on a steady incline.
Commenting on the planned Noida store, Pulverer mentioned that a specific timeline has yet to be determined as it is “much bigger” than its Gurugram counterpart.
Discussing the brand’s venture into e-commerce, Pulverer emphasized IKEA’s commitment to enhancing the customer experience. “The expansion will be connected to where we have fulfilment. The long distribution will be negative for the customer experience. We do it together with offline presence,” she explained.
In addition to the retail front, Pulverer revealed IKEA’s intention to boost sourcing from India, currently standing at 30%. She highlighted the multitude of reasons behind this decision, stating, “It makes a lot of sense for many reasons. One is more active in society; the other is closer to the supply.” With a touch of optimism, she hinted at the possibility of India becoming an export hub for the company in the future.
While details on the quantum of the targeted increase were not disclosed, Pulverer affirmed that India remains among IKEA’s top priority markets, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to fostering a deeper connection with Indian consumers.
