An IKEA Store in Bangkok, Thailand

[Winkie]

For me, I guess I'm the only one who has voted 'yes' in the Poll, and I don't own, and have never owned any Ikea Furniture!

I think Thailand needs a better selection, a better choice, and more competition to keep the likes of Index and Home Pro more on their toes.

Incidentally, while not owning any Ikea Furniture, I have many Ikea items in my home, many of which do not conform with the modern/minimalist furniture that they produce.

They have wonderful kitchen items, both practical and decorative, lighting (I have some that I purchased in Ikea Singapore in about 1992 and still not a single problem).

Many Ikea items are made in Thailand (and can already be purchased through unofficial distribution channels).

If items are made in Thailand, surely it is a good thing if they can also be readily purchased in Thailand?

With regard to self assembly, many many shops in Thailand already sell these products, but most deliver free of charge and assememble for you when they deliver (OK, they still assemble them badly!), maybe and Ikea would do the same, most international companies tend to mould thier stores to suit local customs and needs.

Certainly Ikea quality seems to be very good (with regard to the testing of drawers, cupboard doors, chairs etc...), maybe this can also ultimately have some influence on the quality of other competitive products.

Even if you do not like the products, surely choice and wider availability is a good thing. Maybe not for you, but of others.

[STEVE G]

Winkie, as far as the construction of the furniture goes, apparently when you buy from Ikea here for Luxembourg there is a service where you can pay extra to have the items delivered and assembled for you.
Perhaps they could do the same thing in Thailand, and when you consider the local labour rates it wouldn’t have to be a large charge.
You can’t stop Ikea anyway; they stopped them building one in Luxembourg because of planning restrictions on the size of retail outlets and they just put an even bigger one 200m over the border in Belgium!

[Khundon1975]

Well they do sell some good, light wood furniture, but the self assembly things can sometimes be a bit flimsy.

It may mean that other stores up their act and and stock a greater variety of furniture.

I for one, don't always want teak furniture as it can be a bit dark for some situations and to much teak in a room can be over powering.

I know from going to Ikea in UK it can be a nightmare, low staff numbers, huge queues at checkout and missing bits in the box when you get the items home.

As for going to Bangkok to shop in an Ikea store, no way, I avoid BKK like the plague. and tend to prefer to only pass over it on the expressway.

[bluezephyr]

In Asia is it Pronounced

IKREA??

[The understudy]

Good Morning everyone!

A very very warm Thanks for the second batch of responses and opinions on IKEA Store in Thailand!
So we all agree people from all countries have problems of assembling IKEAS "Flat Pack products. Even me yeah The understudy had my IKEA Furniture folies even with dem very detailed Manuals I was fustraded up to a Point where I was aboot to shove it up to anyones arse...specifically throw ithat "Flat Pack" out of da Window in blatand disregard if It hitting someone Then I called a friend over to see if he could assembly it. While I was eating a german type Noolde Soup with consome, he got it put together in 15 min. Well That's so far with me and IKEA FLAT PACKS.

Well aboot them Low Staff and Long Cues @ Check Outs and less louding space. I'm sure IKEA has learned from the past and would change things to work here for Thailand. If they not learn than hm... It's you own fault!!!

Your's The understudy!!!!

[Winkie]

MAybe understaffed would be a nice change for walking around Home Pro with a team of 9 attendants following you!

[poosmate]

I am sure if the same softwoods are used then the local insects should get well fed

[Khundon1975]

I am sure if the same softwoods are used then the local insects should get well fed

Can softwoods not be treated to stop termites, I think they can.

[The understudy]

Hallo There MAtes and fellas of HHAD!!!

Good point there poosmate
and Answer to Khundon! I think them Sweds from IKEA have expirience dealing with the Softwood problems and insects here.
I think for them Asian products with the kind of Wood Sealing Asian insects If not hmmm....

Your's The understudy!!!

PLEASE Everyone If you haven't posted your opinions or responses on this Topic please do and voice your opnion aboot This Topic. too!!

Your's The understudy!

[PeteC]

I am sure if the same softwoods are used then the local insects should get well fed

Can softwoods not be treated to stop termites, I think they can.

I don't think furniture, cases and cabinets like we're talking about here can be treated after they're constructed. There has to be an anti-termite substance brushed onto the ply surfaces as a barrier when they're being glued together, or all the components pressure treated as an alternative. Of course once infested, they can be drilled and sprayed to kill whatever is in there.

I went through similar with some kitchen cabinets made partly from softwood and they brushed on some nasty stuff before they affixed the exterior paneling. Pete

[Khundon1975]

I am sure if the same softwoods are used then the local insects should get well fed

Can softwoods not be treated to stop termites, I think they can.

I don't think furniture, cases and cabinets like we're talking about here can be treated after they're constructed. There has to be an anti-termite substance brushed onto the ply surfaces as a barrier when they're being glued together, or all the components pressure treated as an alternative. Of course once infested, they can be drilled and sprayed to kill whatever is in there.

I went through similar with some kitchen cabinets made partly from softwood and they brushed on some nasty stuff before they affixed the exterior paneling. Pete

Pete Hi

Did the treatment work?

[PeteC]

The cabinets have only been up for about 9 months. Stay tuned for any munching noises. Pete

[Khundon1975]

The cabinets have only been up for about 9 months. Stay tuned for any munching noises. Pete

We had some garden furniture in our beach house a few years ago and I used to come down early for coffee and on a still morning I could hear them munching in the Teak furniture.
I used to spray etc but gave up.
Best of luck Pete

[STEVE G]

...and they brushed on some nasty stuff before they affixed the exterior paneling. Pete

In the village the locals like to brush wood with a soaking of diesel to keep the termites at bay, but I can imagine it might leave an interesting aroma in your kitchen!

[The understudy]

Good evening y'all @ HHAD Forum!

Wehn I checked the Bangkok Post Web site business section to day I was totally suprised to see this as An Headline. I rubbed my Eyes twice.

SF set to bring Ikea to Thailand

First store planned at B10bn Mega Bang Na

By: PITSINEE JITPLEECHEEP
Published: 12/05/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Business

Siam Future Development Plc (SF) yesterday announced a joint venture with foreign and Thai partners to develop a 10-billion-baht home furnishing centre that will bring the long-awaited Ikea brand to Thailand.

Under the plan, SF Development has been set up with registered capital of 2.5 billion baht. SF and Ikano, which has franchise rights to operate Ikea in Singapore and Malaysia, hold 49% each. S.P.S Group, a Thai firm that has supplied furniture to Ikea for almost 20 years, holds the remaining 2%.

Construction will start at the Mega Bang Na complex in the third quarter of this year and the centre is scheduled to open by October 2011, said SF chief executive Nopporn Witoonchart.

Mega Bang Na will be on a 290-rai plot on the Bang Na-Trat KM 9, Kanchanaphisek outer ring road and will have a total space of about 200,000 square metres. Its features will include a 40,000-sq-m Ikea store, a department store, branded fashion outlets, restaurants, an IT centre, an entertainment centre and parking for 8,000 cars.

Mr Nopporn said Mega Bang Na is expected to create 20,000 jobs and also to generate business opportunities for local contractors and suppliers.

The company anticipates that Mega Bang Na will attract 40 million visitors annually, and will generate 1.4 billion baht in revenue in its first year.

Ikano managing director Tom Huzell said Thailand's large population made it an important market for Ikea. The country is also one of the Asian production bases for Ikea worldwide.

S.P.S. Group normally supplies Ikea with furniture worth about 5 billion baht each year. But the company has recently secured orders from Ikea worth 15 billion baht - about 25% of the value of the country's total furniture exports per year.

Ikea has 300 stores in 35 countries, of which Ikano Private Limited operates two in Singapore and one in Malaysia - as well as the upcoming store in Thailand.

Mr Huzell said Ikano plans to open two more Ikea stores in Thailand over the next 10 years. Each outlet will require an investment of 3.5-4 billion baht. If the store at Ikea Mega Bang Na attracts 5.5 million visitors, the company will consider developing a second branch at the complex.

Siam Future Development Plc plans to invest a total of 1.6 billion baht on Mega Bang Na and on a new shopping complex in Navamin. The company expects to gain 1.7 billion baht revenue this year, up 10% from last year.

SF shares closed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand yesterday at 3.70 baht, up 32 satang, in trade worth 13.97 million baht.

What did y'all think of this latest News? I will give my thoughts after the llatest responses that will come in!

PS I have to re itterrate again me and my Family are not personmally involved with SF Devellopment or it's Songaporean Partners with IKEA in Thailand.

Your's The understudy