The Ikea store in Glasgow will reopen next week, the worldwide homeware and furniture retailer has confirmed.
The Braehead site has been closed to customers since March 20 in response to the coronvirus crisis.
Today Ikea have announced their Glasgow store will open this coming Monday, June 22, at 10am, while outlining the social distancing measures which will be put in place.
They advised Glasgow Live: "In March, prior to the Government lockdown, IKEA voluntarily closed its stores in Scotland to ensure customer and co-worker safety. Following updated regulations and guidance from the Scottish Government, IKEA is now permitted to trade sooner than some other retailers who have permission to open from 29th June.
"Drawing on its experience of reopening IKEA stores safely in a number of countries around the world and following updated Government guidance around social distancing and safe ways of working, IKEA is looking forward to reopening its stores in Scotland, having implemented a series of enhanced safety measures, to protect co-workers and those customers wanting to shop in-store. These measures include:
- Limited numbers of customers granted entry in store at any one time. A staggered entry system and restricted car parking will be in place and, in line with guidance, a maximum of one adult and one child per household will be permitted in-store at any one point.
- Social Distance Wardens placed throughout the store to help customers find their way round the new one-way system and ensure two metre social distancing measures are being followed
- Customers are urged to come prepared with ready-made lists and their own bags, and those wishing purely to return items, are encouraged to do so at a later date. IKEA has a 365 day returns policy
- Additional hand sanitiser facilities and more frequent deep cleaning routines for bags, trolleys, bathrooms, rest areas, equipment and touchscreens
- Screens at key areas such as checkouts, service points and customer returns, to enable social distancing
- Planning services will only be available online
- Cashless payments only, by card and contactless
- All play areas will remain closed, as will the customer restaurant
- Swedish Food Market will be open, with the Bistro offering a takeaway service
- Click and collect service with contact-free collections also available
"Initially, all play areas and restaurants will remain closed. Whilst customers won’t be able to eat in store, they will be able to purchase much-loved items including meatballs from the Swedish Food Market, so they can be made at home. Meanwhile the Bistro, which operates a contact-free takeaway service, will be open with enhanced safety measures in place, including: two-metre distancing, screens, cashless payments only, and deeper and more frequent cleaning routines."
Peter Jelkeby, UK&IE Country CEO and CSO, commented: “As we look to warmly welcome customers and co-workers back into our stores in Scotland, their health and safety remain our top priority, and that’s why we’ve put in place extensive measures to ensure their safety and comfort. This range of comprehensive measures has been implemented in accordance with government guidelines, as well as building on learnings from other IKEA countries that have reopened ahead of us.
“While the experience might be a little different to before – it’s the same IKEA, with the vision to “create a better everyday life for the many people”, and the ambition to inspire people through our brilliant affordable range and home furnishing advice.
“Throughout lockdown, we’ve had the unique privilege of being a part of people’s everyday lives at home, and we’re committed to continuing doing whatever we can to support our customers and co-workers on this next part of the journey we take together.”
Meanwhile, IKEA Glasgow staff have been keeping busy during lockdown by providing crucial support to the local community with a range of initiatives including:
- Working with Social Bite to support the Glasgow Homeless Shelter, donating furniture such as beds, mattresses, bed side tables and office furniture
- Donating 15,000 disposable tape measures to Victoria ICU (these are used when admitting Covid patients to intensive care to measure their height to ensure the correct ventilator settings)
- Donating food from our Swedish food market to the QEUH, Well Fed and Men Matter
- Donating duvets, pillows, textiles and lamps to the QEUH for their staff room so that it is more comfortable for staff working longer hours
- Donating kitchenware to Red Cross at Hillington for families in crisis.
For more information on the reopening you can visit the IKEA website, here.
