Ikea Hiring 200 People for Its New Store in JEM Despite Drop in Sales This Year

Most of you know Ikea as the preferred furniture store for couples to argue.

You want the blue dinnerware set, she wants the green one, and ten minutes later, your eight-year relationship has ended.

Reader: This sounds oddly specific 

It’s just an example, dear reader.

If you’re single, though, you probably go to Ikea for its gloriously juicy meatballs and cheap hot dog buns.

Well, if you like their food or just enjoy browsing their mammoth stores, why not work there while you’re at it?

Ikea Hiring 200 People for Its New Store in JEM Despite Drop in Sales This Year

Even though it reported a fall in revenue last year, Ikea Singapore is opening a brand new store at JEM, and plans to hire 200 people for it.

The store, which is their third outlet, is expected to open next year, according to The Straits Times.

Ikea stores in Southeast Asia managed to get through the lockdown period without retrenching any workers, and will continue to recruit staff even though it suffered a 7.4% drop in revenue in the 12 months to 31 August.

According to ST, Ikea’s turnover in Singapore was $304 million, down around 10% from last year.

Singapore Stores Endured Longest Closure

The furniture retail giant has 424 stores operating in 52 countries, but said that the lockdowns were particularly restrictive in Singapore.

“Our Singapore stores endured the longest closures of any in our region – at 73 days, 20% of the year. Our Ikea food operations were closed even longer and we have curtailed operations even upon opening,” said Jaap Doornbos, its retail director for Singapore and Vietnam.

Considering how long their stores were closed, however, Doornbos was pleasantly surprised that their turnover only fell 10%.

“These results are driven by a very strong e-commerce business, the great inspiration people are finding in our stores upon reopening and the continued interest in home furnishing,” he said.

This is why they were able to open a third outlet in the country.

JEM Store

Their JEM store, though it will span around 6,500 sq m across three floors, will be Ikea’s first “small-store concept” in Southeast Asia.

Unlike their other two outlets, it won’t have a playground or built-in warehouse.

Just how small will it be? Well, according to Mothership, Ikea Tampines is around six times bigger than the new Jem outlet.

Fortunately, the new store will still offer the full range of Ikea products, meaning you can still get your scented candles and plush toys there.

However, what we’re most relieved about is that the store will also have a restaurant, which means their famous Swedish meatballs and hot dog buns will be available for devouring.

A boyfriend appears to break up with his girlfriend after she has a scar on her face. But it turns out to be something else—watch their story to the end because it’s definitely related to you, whoever you are: