IKEA, the world's largest furniture retailer, announced on
Wednesday the opening of its new store in Beijing. The new store is
IKEA's second largest in the world, after its flagship Stockholm
outlet.
???
On Monday, IKEA China closed its old Beijing store, which was
located on the heavily congested northern section of the Third Ring
Road. It had been in operation for seven years. The new store is
located beside the Fourth Ring Road in northeastern
Beijing.?
???
Along with news of the new Beijing store, IKEA's Chinese-language
website also published new goals that have been set for the rapidly
growing Chinese market.????
???
According to IKEA China, the company has invested over US$100
million in building the new Beijing store. It covers 107,723 square
meters and provides customers with around 7,000 items.
???
The new IKEA store boasts three floors of free underground parking
with more than 1,500 lots.
???
Since it first entered the China market in 1998, IKEA now has three
stores; one each in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou.
???
Sources from IKEA China said that China offers immense business
growth opportunities, and has become its largest purchase market.
About 18 percent of IKEA's purchasing materials are from
China.
???
Currently, 80 percent of the products sold in IKEA's China stores
are made in China.
???
With 231 shops in 33 countries, IKEA recorded a total global
turnover of 14.8 billion euros for 2005.
(Xinhua News Agency April 13, 2006)