Ikea has also had to be more selective. The directive details that they have sought to give priority to importing the products that are most successful among Mexican customers, related to the decoration category or some kitchen supplies, to guarantee their availability.
In the store, the company uses labels to indicate those products that are not in stock. “There’s the communication explaining (to buyers) that we’re having problems like this and that they can contact a partner for alternatives,” he says. “We have over 4,000 products, it’s not like we don’t have anything,” she adds.
In March 2021, Malcom Pruys, CEO of IKEA Mexico, told Expansion that the company reduced the volume of products it imported to North American markets, including Mexico, by 4%, which made it possible to have the most demanded products online. In addition, they have increased the number of local suppliers, which then represented 10%. This year, retail will continue its search for local suppliers, in order to reduce shortages due to disruptions in the supply chain.
Ikea prepares the next store openings in Mexico
The Ikea store in Mexico opened its doors on April 8, 2021, once the pandemic subsided in the country’s capital, which was then entering the green color of the epidemiological traffic light.
The store is spread over three floors. On the first floor, there are small departments decorated as living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms that give an idea of how the furniture looks, while on the second and third floors there are the shopping areas, the decoration area, and the restaurant.
Walking through the halls of Ikea in Mexico City
In this first year, Ikea Mexico has received two million visits to its store, has also sold 145,000 kitchen bowls, 1.2 million Swedish meatballs, 50,000 hot dogs and added 220,000 members to its I Family loyalty program.
“We are quite happy (due to sales growth). We do not have a standard, not every month is the same, for example, in El Buen Fin we had very good results and we follow a good curve in that sense. We are receiving more and more people and we have very loyal customers who repeat visits and new customers who come to the store and want to discover a little”, shares the manager.
The Swedish company is preparing for this year the opening of its second store in Mexico, which will be located in the Vía San Ángel shopping center. It will have an extension of 9,900 square meters of sales floor, plus a restaurant for 380 people, according to information from the firm.
“For this year our goal is to consolidate and establish the business. We want to attract many more visitors and increase brand awareness in the market,” concludes Plaza.