The big blue boxes reopen in Melbourne

Since re-opening its Richmond and Springvale stores, IKEA co-workers and customers have expressed their appreciation in being able to return to some form of normality in their lives.

The stores have reviewed their COVID safe plans prior to reopening to ensure all measures and practices are up to date and in line with recommendations from the Victorian Government and the Department of Health and Human Services for Victoria.

“We’ve enjoyed welcoming our visitors and customers back to the store, with many of my personal interactions with customers expressing how happy to they are to be able to shop with us again,” said IKEA Richmond Store Manager Chris Brown.

“Home has never been more important and we know we play a big part in this.

“Our customers still have a strong need for our affordable work from home solutions but are also enjoying the opportunity to redecorate and refresh the look of their homes.

“We are happy to be able to inspire our visitors again in our physical touch point with our beautiful and affordable range of home furnishings.”

Co-workers and service providers are required to undertake temperature checks on arrival to the IKEA Melbourne stores, and masks are required to be worn at all times by co-workers, customers and service providers.

New provisions include:

• For contactless home deliveries, the proof of delivery will be confirmed by a geotagged photo taken by the driver upon delivery in place of a signature
• Providing a 3-month extension for customers in Victoria whose 365-day return limit has expired or is close to expiring
• Virtual planning services that include kitchen, PAX wardrobe, bathroom and BESTA planning services, from the comfort of your home
• Stores in Victoria will be extending trading hours for customer return

“Customers have embraced our longer trading hours and love being able to shop when it suits them,” added Mr Brown.

“They have also embraced the convenience of our click and collect and virtual planning design services in Kitchens, Wardrobes and Storage, some of which are new services that are now here to stay.

“Again thanks to the resilience and agility of our co-worker team, we were seamlessly able transform the business again, back to receiving visitors and customers to the store,” concluded Mr Brown.