Why IKEA chose PH for world's biggest store

Jessica Fenol, ABS-CBN News

<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img src='http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/11/20/20181120_ikeaph.jpg' ><figcaption>A jeepney painted in IKEA's blue and yellow colors is displayed at the SM Mall of Asia, where the Swedish furniture-maker will build its largest store in the world. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA -- A growing middle class and a booming residential market led Swedish furniture-maker IKEA to build its biggest store ever in the Philippines, officials said Tuesday.</p><p>Set for opening in 2020, IKEA Philippines will be 65,000 square meters big, enough to fit 150 basketball courts and nearly double the size of a typical branch, officials said.</p><p>It will located be at the SM Mall of Asia, in the Manila Bay area where property prices jumped in the first 3 months of the year due to strong demand that outpaced other business districts in the capital.</p><p>Only 2 of IKEA Philippines' 5 floors will be for brick and mortar retail. The rest will be allocated for a warehouse and a call center that will handle the e-commerce side of the business, said Georg Platzer, who will manage the store.</p><p>"Philippines is a very young country. I think the fact that the average age is 24 years makes us believe in our glorious future here," Platzer told ABS-CBN News. </p><p>"The new generation, they love to shop online, but at the same time they love to be inspired by touching and feeling and testing so I think it's a combination. Nobody should deny the existence of the other way of retailing," he said </p><p>Its website, www.IKEA.ph, is expected to cater to over 6 million Filipinos in the greater Manila area, he said.</p><p>IKEA Southeast Asia said it is spending P7 billion for the store and will hire 500 Filipinos from top level management to cashiers. Recruitment details will be posted on its website, he added. </p><p>When asked whether there will be more stores in the country, Platzer said "after we get our learnings we'd soon expand that so, of course, the idea is that one day, we'll have good service to the Philippines." </p><p>"It's a 120 million country. I came from Austria with 8 million people. We have 7 stores. Now you do your calculations," Platzer said.</p><p>IKEA operates 422 stores in 50 markets.<br/> </p><div class='media-content'><div class='slider-for'><div><img src='http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/11/20/20181120_ikea1.jpg' ></div><div><img src='http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/11/20/20181120_ikea2.jpg' ></div><div><img src='http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/11/20/20181120_ikea3.jpg' ></div><div><img src='http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/11/20/20181120_ikea4.jpg' ></div><div><img src='http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/11/20/20181120_ikea5.jpg' ></div></div><div class='slider-desc'><div class='item-desc'><p>(L-R) IKEA Southeast Asia Managing Director Christian Rojkjaer, SM Supermalls SVP Steven Tan, and future IKEA Philippines Store Manager Georg Platzer during the press launch of the IKEA store at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City on November 20, 2018. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</em></p></div><div class='item-desc'><p>Executives and VIPs during the press launch of the IKEA store at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City on November 20, 2018. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</em></p></div><div class='item-desc'><p>Future IKEA Philippines Store Manager Georg Platzer during the press launch of the IKEA store at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City on November 20, 2018. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</em></p></div><div class='item-desc'><p>The famous IKEA swedish meatballs served at the press launch of the IKEA store at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City on November 20, 2018. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</em></p></div><div class='item-desc'><p>The construction site of the future IKEA store beside the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on November 20, 2018. The store measures at about 65,000 square meters and is almost double the size of a typical IKEA big blue-box.<em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</em></p></div></div></div>

<p>Only 2 of IKEA Philippines' 5 floors will be for brick and mortar retail. The rest will be allocated for a warehouse and a call center that will handle the e-commerce side of the business, said Georg Platzer, who will manage the store.</p><p>"Philippines is a very young country. I think the fact that the average age is 24 years makes us believe in our glorious future here," Platzer told ABS-CBN News. </p><p>"The new generation, they love to shop online, but at the same time they love to be inspired by touching and feeling and testing so I think it's a combination. Nobody should deny the existence of the other way of retailing," he said </p><p>Its website, www.IKEA.ph, is expected to cater to over 6 million Filipinos in the greater Manila area, he said.</p><p>IKEA Southeast Asia said it is spending P7 billion for the store and will hire 500 Filipinos from top level management to cashiers. Recruitment details will be posted on its website, he added. </p><p>When asked whether there will be more stores in the country, Platzer said "after we get our learnings we'd soon expand that so, of course, the idea is that one day, we'll have good service to the Philippines." </p><p>"It's a 120 million country. I came from Austria with 8 million people. We have 7 stores. Now you do your calculations," Platzer said.</p><p>IKEA operates 422 stores in 50 markets.<br> </p><div class='media-content'><div class='slider-for'><div><img src='http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/11/20/20181120_ikea1.jpg' ></div><div><img src='http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/11/20/20181120_ikea2.jpg' ></div><div><img src='http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/11/20/20181120_ikea3.jpg' ></div><div><img src='http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/11/20/20181120_ikea4.jpg' ></div><div><img src='http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/11/20/20181120_ikea5.jpg' ></div></div><div class='slider-desc'><div class='item-desc'><p>(L-R) IKEA Southeast Asia Managing Director Christian Rojkjaer, SM Supermalls SVP Steven Tan, and future IKEA Philippines Store Manager Georg Platzer during the press launch of the IKEA store at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City on November 20, 2018. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</em></p></div><div class='item-desc'><p>Executives and VIPs during the press launch of the IKEA store at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City on November 20, 2018. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</em></p></div><div class='item-desc'><p>Future IKEA Philippines Store Manager Georg Platzer during the press launch of the IKEA store at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City on November 20, 2018. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</em></p></div><div class='item-desc'><p>The famous IKEA swedish meatballs served at the press launch of the IKEA store at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City on November 20, 2018. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</em></p></div><div class='item-desc'><p>The construction site of the future IKEA store beside the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on November 20, 2018. The store measures at about 65,000 square meters and is almost double the size of a typical IKEA big blue-box.<em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</em></p></div></div></div>

<p>Set for opening in 2020, IKEA Philippines will be 65,000 square meters big, enough to fit 150 basketball courts and nearly double the size of a typical branch, officials said.</p><p>It will located be at the SM Mall of Asia, in the Manila Bay area where property prices jumped in the first 3 months of the year due to strong demand that outpaced other business districts in the capital.</p>

<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img src='http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/11/20/20181120_ikeaph.jpg' ><figcaption>A jeepney painted in IKEA's blue and yellow colors is displayed at the SM Mall of Asia, where the Swedish furniture-maker will build its largest store in the world. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA -- A growing middle class and a booming residential market led Swedish furniture-maker IKEA to build its biggest store ever in the Philippines, officials said Tuesday.</p>

<p>Set for opening in 2020, IKEA Philippines will be 65,000 square meters big, enough to fit 150 basketball courts and nearly double the size of a typical branch, officials said.</p>

Set for opening in 2020, IKEA Philippines will be 65,000 square meters big, enough to fit 150 basketball courts and nearly double the size of a typical branch, officials said.

Why IKEA chose PH for world's biggest store | ABS-CBN News

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Why IKEA chose PH for world's biggest store

Why IKEA chose PH for world's biggest store