IKEA to set up Hej Homes in Hyderabad

IKEA, the Swedish home furnishing brand, is all set to open its first store in Hyderabad in early 2018. But before that, just to give India a taste of what IKEA furniture feels like, the brand will be setting up experience centre called Hej Homes from November 22 onwards at Forum Mall, Hyderabad.
Hej Homes (Hej is Swedish for hello), will replicate the essence of IKEA stores worldwide.
Mirroring the features offered in global IKEA stores, Hej Homes store will be set up in places with high footfalls – like malls – to attract the maximum number of consumers.
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The Hej Homes store will also house a cafe and a play area for children.
People can experience IKEA products at Hej Homes but they can’t buy them. They will be able to buy their products once the IKEA store opens in 2018.
Apart from this, Swedish major is also planning on introducing an app loaded with different makeover programs done by IKEA, making small webisodes for the app and curating a catalogue. The app’s main aim – a large number of downloads, reaching out to a larger consumer base, and doling out tips on how to get great homes in low budgets.
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Exploring IKEA’s Hyderabad Store
The world’s biggest furniture retailer will be opening its first India store spread across 400,000 sq.ft. in Hyderabad in December 2017.
The store will feature 7,500 furniture and home furnishing products and a 1,000-seater restaurant serving healthy and nutritious Indian and Swedish cuisine. It will also have a play area for children and a day-care centre for children of its employees.
IKEA is investing Rs 700 crore on the Hyderabad store and will hire 500 direct workers and provide 1,500 indirect jobs.
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Business Model
The company, which received Government approval in 2013 to invest Rs 10,500 crore in India under the 100 per cent foreign direct investment route, plans to open its second store in Mumbai, where it has purchased 24 acre land. And going further, it plans to open 25 stores in nine Indian cities over next 10 years.
However, the size of all the stores will be different just like its other 328 stores around the globe. However, one thing that will be common will be the business model of the furniture wing as well as the restaurant.
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What’s on the Menu?
The Swedish company’s restaurants, which are an integral part of the store, are known for their meatballs. The meatball meal comprises of 20-25 per cent of the the total IKEA restaurant business.
However, in India, the furniture giant will be replacing their traditional Swedish Meatballs with Chicken and Vegetable Balls.
Other highlights of the menu from Swedish cuisine will include salmon, cinnamon buns, croissant, blueberry jam and cloudberry.
They have also localised the menu for India and will be serving various local dishes like Hyderabadi Biryani, Dal Makhani and Indian bread to name a few.
IKEA plans to keep the price of dishes at these restaurants low.
Globally, the restaurant business accounts for 5.4 per cent of the total revenue of IKEA whereas in India, the furniture giant is expecting the restaurant to contribute 10 per cent of the total revenue.
READ: IKEA to open 1,000-seater restaurant in Hyderabad store
The Way Forward
IKEA is also planning to double its sourcing from India from 300 million euros to 600 million euros by 2020. About 70 per cent of the current sourcing is in textiles and rugs.
After Hyderabad and Mumbai, IKEA will be opening stores in Bengaluru and Delhi NCR.
The company has plans to open two to three retail stores every year. Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkatta, Pune and Surat are the other cities IKEA is looking at.
It will host 5-6 million customers every year. The customers will be able to touch and feel the products at the store and they will also have the option of ordering the same online.