Al Homaizi Limited opens second IKEA store in Kuwait
Bringing IKEA closer to more people with exciting, unique memorable experience
By Michelle Fe Santiago
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 23: Al Homaizi Limited inaugurated on Sunday at the 360 Mall the second IKEA store in Kuwait with Managing Director and Chairwoman of IKEA Al Homaizi Limited Fadwa Al Homaizi leading the inauguration.
“Today, we are marking a milestone in the history of IKEA Al Homaizi Limited. After 36 years with one store in Kuwait, we are really excited to open the second meeting point, the brand-new IKEA 360. This is a unique IKEA, never seen before in the IKEA world, and we are very proud to open it in Kuwait. We have created it having in mind a new IKEA experience. We have listened to our customers feedback, conducted consumer research and home visits to understand deeply what are the needs and dreams of the people in our market, and what are the challenges they have to overcome in their everyday lives at home. In IKEA 360, we want to meet our visitors in an unexpected way,” stated Al Homaizi before cutting the ceremonial ribbon.
Al Homaizi was joined by IKEA Al Homaizi Ltd CEO Marino Maganto and other IKEA Al Homaizi Ltd executives, distinguished guests and the local press during the grand opening.
“We want to exceed their expectations and fulfill their home furnishing needs and dreams with well designed, smart and functional solutions with the best value for money. We are really excited to welcome the people of Kuwait to IKEA 360,” she added.
Al Homaizi along with Maganto and the guests took a tour of the IKEA 360 where one will find inspiring and beautiful living room and bedroom solutions, dream walk-in closet and the best ideas for all your storage needs across the whole home. One will find more inspiration in a new exciting way, meeting the IKEA range differently, connected to the way you live your life at home.
“IKEA 360 opens with the purpose of bringing IKEA closer to more people in Kuwait, to surprise, excite and inspire them with a unique and unforgettable experience. During all these years in Kuwait we have learnt that living room and bedroom are the most important areas of the home for the people in Kuwait. Guided by all these learning, we have created IKEA 360 with a strong focus on living room and bedroom,” outlined Maganto.
Although the focus in IKEA 360 is on living room and bedroom solutions, one can buy all the IKEA range with the help of the IKEA co-workers and their digital tablets. More than 7,000 articles under one roof to enjoy home at your convenience.
But this is not all, as IKEA 360 also introduces the first IKEA Design lounge in the Middle East. A beautiful and comfortable area where they will help you make your dreams come true. Together they will design the room, the home or the office that you always wanted.
“In IKEA 360 we have created the figure of the ‘multi-functional co-worker’. Co-workers that will prioritise customer needs to facilitate your shopping and make it easy and seamless. Offering you all different choices and providing you with personalised services according to your preferences. And all on your own terms,” highlighted Maganto.
He outlined the intensive training that every multi-functional co-worker has gone through.
“We have heavily invested in their training which means that they will be able to assist you, get you through the journey, from A to Z for any of their home whether it is your bedroom bed that you would like to change, living room, children’s rooms or you want to do a full building of flats. If you want to buy a kitchen, so they will be able to assist you in the whole journey. They have been carefully selected, trained and developed really to be ambassadors to be much closer to customers. Each one of them has gone through about 500 hours of training in the last couple of months,” shared Maganto to the Arab Times.
So, one can sit back, relax, let the IKEA team of Home Furnishing experts take care of the rest, while one enjoy IKEA Coffee and the freshly baked pastries of the IKEA bakery in the first IKEA Café in Kuwait. You can have a taste of a wide selection of cold and hot beverages and delectable bread and pastries.
In the IKEA 360, shoppers get to have this unique shopping experience with the digital technology such as the sound showers that will bring you happy memories with family and friends; ambient scent machines to make you feel like at a spa while trying your new mattress; digital screens to display functions, benefits and quality in an interactive and exciting way; and QR codes that will provide you with everything you need to know about the solutions and how you can get them home.
“We have introduced the latest technology available today to display functions, benefits and quality in an interactive and exciting way, to make shopping easier and fun. Today we make our dream a reality! To create a better everyday life for the many people in Kuwait with the ultimate IKEA experience. All is ready for our visitors to enjoy!!
Maganto disclosed that this is only the start of IKEA’s ambitious expansion plan in Kuwait.
“We are planning to roll this concept out in the other markets and we also plan to continue rolling this concept out in Kuwait. This format and this size help us of course to be closer to people by not being in that big box anymore. This is a complementary solution for that big box,” he stated.
He added that people in Kuwait love IKEA, hence, they want to be closer to them with new and exciting customer meeting points in more areas.
“Everybody is welcome. I really hope that they will feel inspired, that they will find solutions . I am sure we have something for everybody with all wallet sizes and you will be surprised there is a beautiful bedroom for only KD 140. It’s really a beautiful bed and we try to cover everybody and of course we want to have your feedback to continue growing. Stay tuned for more exciting news,” beamed Maganto.