TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, today announced it has completed a redecoration project at its Phoenix-area store in Tempe, AZ. This redesign of the accessories marketplace updated the merchandising platform in departments such as cookware, bedding, bath, lighting, home organization and textiles, to ensure customers are inspired by the most current display layouts and standards, unique to IKEA stores. The store remained open and operational during the design and implementation of this redesign.
IKEA Tempe will mark the completion and reopening of the newly updated Marketplace with a gift card valued up to $250 for each of the first 100 visitors on Saturday December 1, and a free 7-piece cookware set for the first 50 visitors on Sunday December 2. In addition, on both days, IKEA Tempe will offer food sampling, free breakfast and a chance to win a $1,000 gift card towards a new IKEA bathroom.
“After several months of hard work, we are thrilled to fully reopen our Marketplace section to customers,” said IKEA Tempe store manager Kelly Frieze. “They now will find more inspiring, updated displays, new products, a redesigned layout and 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 and to highlight the increased exposure customers now will have – more easily – 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,” Frieze added.
Located on 23 acres along I-10 near Warner Road, the 342,000-square-foot IKEA Tempe opened in November 2004 and employs approximately 250 coworkers. In addition to 10,000 exclusively designed items, IKEA Tempe presents 44 different room-settings, three model home interiors, a supervised children’s play area, and a 250-seat restaurant serving Swedish specialties and American dishes. Family-friendly features include a Children’s IKEA area in the Showroom, baby care rooms, preferred parking and play areas throughout the store. Also, IKEA installed solar panels atop the store as part of an initiative to roll-out panels on 90% of its US locations.
IKEA strives to be ‘The Life Improvement Store,’ and since its 1943 founding in Sweden 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 330 IKEA stores in 40 countries, including 38 in the U.S. IKEA incorporates sustainability into day-to-day business and supports initiatives benefiting children and the environment. For more information, go to IKEA-USA.com.