The department store IKEA, a multinational group of companies that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture, appliances and home accessories, and is also the world’s largest furniture retailer, is coming to Split for 2017.
While Zagreb has had all of the IKEA fun thus far, the Swedish giant has finally come to light with specific plans for an IKEA opening on the coast. While Split will not get the standard IKEA warehouse, they will get about 1000 m2 of exhibition space and a large warehouse where consumers will be able to pick up their ordered and purchased items on the same day, reports Slobodna Dalmacija.
“IKEA will open a delivery center, or pick-up point – a place where customers can book, pay and take their goods. The total facility will occupy about 2500 m2, of which slightly less than half will serve as a showroom for inspiration for our visitors and customers. The expected opening date is the second half of 2017,” revealed Igor Štefanac, the PR manager of IKEA in Croatia, which will delight all those who have had to so far pay more than 10% of the value of goods for transportation to Split.
Although no location is set as of yet, it is also speculated that the new IKEA site will likely be next to City Center One.
Due to the growing tourism in Dalmatia, Split is of great interest for this furniture company, but the opening of the complex at sea will have to wait their turn as the Swedes are focused on the opening of their first department stores in Ljubljana and Belgrade currently.
Stefan Vanoverbeke, director of IKEA Croatia, stated that in IKEA’s second year of opening, they have achieved 567 million kuna in revenue, which is 5.8% more than in the first year of operations in Zagreb.