IKEA opens its first store in Ljubljana

The Swedish furniture group Ikea opened its first store in Slovenia in Ljubljana this week. To ensure a safe shopping experience in Covid times and avert long queues in front of the store, Ikea has mandated advanced bookings for in-person shopping in the first weeks following the opening.

The number of visitors is capped at 700 with Ikea estimating that they will spend roughly two hours on average browsing around the store.

The online shop has also opened for operations. The Ikea restaurant in the brick-and-mortar store is closed due to Covid rules, but there will be takeaway options, Cas Lachaert, the head of the Ljubljana store, said.

He added that Ikea will sell its standard products in Slovenia as well as those reflecting the local environment. The great demand for Ikea family cards shows that consumers are looking forward to the opening, Lachaert said, noting that 45,000 people requested the card in the first seven days.

After the epidemiological situation improves, the Ljubljana store is expected to attract some 2 million visitors per year.

Online purchases could be picked up or delivered – apart from Ljubljana, there will be a pick-up location in Maribor as well. Additional locations could be set up in the future, according to Lachaert.

Ikea has employed 400 staff for its Ljubljana store after receiving some 7,000 job applications. The Swedish furniture giant had initially planned the opening for the end of 2020, however, Covid-19 has upset the apple cart and the date has been pushed to 25 February.

The store spans over 31,000 sqm, including some 22,000 sqm of the shopping area, and stocks about 9,500 products.