IKEA, the world's leading home furnishings retailer, today announced it has completed a redecoration project at its San Gabriel Valley-area store in Covina, CA. To ensure customers are inspired by the most current display layouts and standards, unique to IKEA stores, this redesign of the accessories marketplace updated the merchandising platform in departments such as cookware, bedding, lighting, home organization and textiles. The store remained open and operational during the design and implementation of this redesign.
IKEA Covina will mark the official completion and grand reopening of the newly updated Marketplace with a celebration during May 18_19, 2013 weekend. Throughout both days, IKEA will be randomly awarding gift cards and reusable bags to lucky customers in line at the check-outs, prior to the purchasing transaction. Also, the store has arranged for family entertainment in appearance from the Radio Disney Crew on Sunday, May 19 with additional prizes as well as games and fun activities for the kids.
"After several months of hard work, we are thrilled to fully reopen our Marketplace section to customers," said IKEA Covina store manager Kristien Verbeke. "They now will find more inspiring, updated displays, new products and a redesigned layout for an even better shopping experience."
For nearly three months, this IKEA store underwent a phased transformation of the store's entire marketplace level (downstairs), requiring department closures, relocated displays, temporary detours, and a reduced product selection. As part of this effort, 100% of the marketplace displays, product bins, shelving and merchandise communications were revamped. The initiative also re-shaped the flow of the marketplace and enhanced the customer path to feature new vignette areas. Customers now will have more easily access to many of their favorite products available throughout the various accessory departments.
IKEA aimed to minimize any disruption or inconvenience to customers during the renovation process. "We recognize this project may have required flexibility, patience and understanding by our customers, but we are confident the result will be worth it to visitors looking for home furnishing accessories," Verbeke added.
Located on 12.5 acres along I-10 at Barranca Avenue, the 325,000-s.f. IKEA Covina opened in May 2003. In addition to 10,000 exclusively designed items, IKEA Covina presents 50 different room-settings, three model home interiors, a supervised children's play area, and a 400-seat restaurant serving Swedish specialties as well as American dishes. Other family-friendly features include a 'Children's IKEA' area in the showroom, baby-care rooms, play areas throughout the store, and preferred parking. Also, IKEA installed a solar energy system atop the store as part of an initiative to roll-out solar panels on nearly 90% of its US locations. Consistent with the company's goal of being energy independent by 2020, IKEA has installed more than 250,000 solar panels worldwide and owns approximately 110 wind turbines in Europe. Globally, IKEA has allocated $1.8 billion to invest in renewable energy through 2015.
Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered home furnishings of good design and function at low prices so the majority of people can afford them. There are currently more than 340 IKEA stores in 41 countries, including 38 in the U.S. IKEA incorporates sustainability into day-to-day business and supports initiatives that benefit children and the environment. For more information, see IKEA-USA.com, facebook.com/IKEAUSA, @DesignByIKEA, and http://pinterest.com/IKEAUSA/.
Contacts:
IKEA
Yessica Barrera,626-966-1111, Ext. 1340
