Ikea Plans Two More Stores In Bangkok

[trogers]

Im from Autralia, and the IKEA products there are mostly 'made in china' anyway. Of course their price is cheaper. Come to think about it, Index also have a mixture of Chinea and India products too. They're all the same. If you want something at an affordable price, they will hugely be made in China, but if you want good quality product not made in China, it is almost a rip-off price for the extra quality. Never can win in this game. No one can say ,"Yes, I made this product, it is the best you can find, and it's cheaper than the China stuff"

Furniture sold by IKEA are mostly laminated chipboard or MDF or softwood. Great for feeding the local termites.

I prefer the local wood crafted in contemporary Thai style.

http://forums.speedguide.net/album.php?albumid=52&attachmentid=408

[PattayaParent]

Yet another overpriced crap furnishing (ha!) store from Europe.

I'm sure the cashed up Thais will flock to this particular branded (mdf board) store the same as they did on Phuket with Index, primarily known for it's cheap shitty 'furniture' in the UK. LOL! But would have thought 'expats' would know better.

Ah well. No accounting for tastelessness.

That was my opinion about Index and while there is low quality stuff in abundance I was surprised by some good quality finds in the Index in Pattaya.

Having furnished a flat in UAE from IKEA Abu Dhabi branch I'm looking forward to checking out the Bangkok outlet when it opens.

Edited March 11, 2011 by PattayaParent

[softgeorge]

They would make a killing in Phuket.

That, actually, is a different line of business. IKEA sells furniture.

That's what I thought but by reading this the thai stores will be specializing in pork balls and meat balls. If thier pork balls are going to be anything like thier furniture then they will be just cheap 2nd rate rubbish. I think I will buy my pork balls from my usual vendor.

[nikster]

Much needed in the LOS - better and cheaper than Index, about time Thais get well designed low priced furniture; not to mention the fantastic trinkets and accessories.

Years and years ago I bought 3 plastic table lamps there, retro 70ies design, EUR 2.50 each. I still have them, they're still my favorite lamps. Legendary.

I've seen them on sale as grey import in several chic shops in Chiang Mai for ~ Baht 2000...

Not everything at Ikea is great, quality is sometimes bad - but compared to what you get in Thailand, Ikea is going to be far and away the best. Both SB and Index are much (much!) worse, and more expensive too...

[nikster]

I'm going to take the in-laws there once it opens and have much fun watching them get all confused by IKEA's famous one way system..haha

LOL that will be funny indeed... everyone gets confused by that.. many times have I wandered through a "shortcut" to find myself in a totally unexpected part of a vast Ikea store... but the Thais have never seen it.

Pretty much the only thing about Ikea that's not well designed IMO - certainly maximizes profits though as it ensures that every single customer passes by ALL sections of an Ikea store - there is no other way to get out! It's a bit like a Las Vegas casino in that way.

I just remembered the best part - the kid's section! Kids toys and furniture at Ikea are something you can only dream of living in Thailand; can't find this here, not even close. Cheap, innovative, beautiful, plain cute things, and unlike the chinese imports here, child safe with no lead paint etc as it's all sold world-wide and must conform to western standards.

Sure it's all made in China but what isn't - these days that doesn't mean anything. Both the best and the worst quality products are made there. It's more important who makes it in China..

[jaiyenyen]

Looking forward to seeing the kitchenware dept with decent grade stainless steel items.

Oh! and don't forget the free coffee refills in the resturant.

[selftaopath]

I wish Wal Mart would get here.

[swillowbee]

IKEA will revolutionize Retailing and Customer Service in Thailand...

Index... Watch out.. Your Days are Numbered!

I can't wait until they Open.

When I was last in KL I picked up a catalog from their Store there (and had Swedish meatballs for Lunch).. I'm real interested to compare the KL prices with what they do here. A rare opportunity. Sort of Like the Big Mac Index for gloal food prices.. We can do an IKEA index comparing prices around the world.. It may keep Things honest here in Thailand.

Interesting thought... Swedish Meatballs are the most popular Item on their restaurant menu.. But they are made of BEEF.. I wonder what will happen here. Will it remain #1? Will They change the recipe to pork? Will they sell it at all?

Something to make you go... Hmmmm ???

CS

Agreed. THe more foreign competition in retail here the better. Then Thai stores will have improve their game, especially in terms of customers service and better return policies. Actually customer service is great in Thailand until you have a problem then they just laugh at you when you complain.

Come on, customer service here is crap - it's all smiles and stalking and then u ask for something - they pass on the request to at least 3 others who don't speak English or have any knowledge of where or what they sell and then u are left alone as they wander off for a chat with their mates. The smiles cover absolute incompetence and a total lack of knowledge about customers and products. For example, the other day in Index in Pattaya, I asked for long wall mirrors in the mirror dept - after they assembled 4 'assistants' they came to the conclusion that they didn't have any and started to wander off. Within 5 meters, I saw exactly what I wanted on the wall.

I agree complaints don't get u anywhere except "next week", week after week. And mark my words, it will be EXACTLY the same in Ikea. Nothing changes them, neither Tesco, Big C or Ikea have the management skills or influence to change their behaviour. And as far as Ikea creating competition - all they will do is provide thousands of furniture designs for local Thais to copy and maybe even try to pass on to as Ikea products - after all Ikea designs are often simple and functional - just what Thai traders are after. Roll on November

... the problem of Thai laziness and incompetence IS a problem for any foreign company expecting to plant their flag in Thailand and replicate their successful business model here ... they bring the right software and the right hardware, but the inferior Thai workforce is the greatest threat to success here.

... that's why foreign companies simplify their offer, making it as "idiot proof" as possible to accomodate local incompetences as much as possible ... for example, cash registers at the international fast food outlets don't have numbers on the cash register keys, they have pictograms easy for even the most poorly skilled and incompetent workers to easily identify ... relatively idiot-proof ... other management techniques are possible throughout the retail system ... IKEA won't be able to solve for all the deficiencies of an incompetent, lazy, and uneducated Thai workforce (Thai business culture overwhelmingly underperforms in so many areas), but Ikea will figure out many of them.

... look at what Starbucks achieved here ... granted, they quickly terminated their incompetent local Thai partner (Central Retail), took control and began selecting higher educated people, investing in their training and re-training, and paying them more than the typical Thai retailer pays the totally untrained "lurkers" that are the typical Thai retail worker ... but, they don't have the burden of carrying 1-1/2 worthless workers for every customer ... IKEA will figure it out.

... IKEA will certainly be superior to any Thai with similar ambitions ... they've done this all over the world ... with one foot in the "developing nation" category, Thailand will be a challenge ... the arrogant Thai families controlling much of major Thai retail talk about "competition this and competition that", using all the right words as though they actually know what they are talking about, but they really have no understanding of what is about to hit them with the arrival of IKEA, followed quickly by the ASEAN trade liberalization.

... I can imagine Thai retailers will pay dearly when this hapopens, all to the benefit of Thai consumers, who will at last know what real value and service is ... too bad Thai retailers have been so unwilling to do this themselves, and that foreigners have to drag them out of their insulated, feudal dream world ... but, what might be expected of a nation of children.

Edited March 12, 2011 by swillowbee

[PattayaParent]

Sure it's all made in China but what isn't - these days that doesn't mean anything. Both the best and the worst quality products are made there. It's more important who makes it in China..

The best furniture I've found in Viet Nam is made in Thailand!

I don't like the VN style of furniture but anything 'Western' style comes from Thailand.

But made to measure or built in funiture is actually made in China and is better than local VN cabinetry.

[sushi5734]

I am really looking forward to ikea opening and already saving my pennies. Ikea already sources stock from Thailand so I would imagine they are quite well versed in dealing with the way things are done here and they've been planning it for years, their main problem will be keeping up with demand.

As for the pork or beef debate well they could quite easily get beef from chok chai farm which is 90 mins up the road and if their guided tour is to be believed has the biggest beef heard in SE Asia, and the livestock looked very healthy and made the best cheeseburger I've had in ages!

[tombkk]

They would make a killing in Phuket.

That, actually, is a different line of business. IKEA sells furniture.

That's what I thought but by reading this the thai stores will be specializing in pork balls and meat balls. If thier pork balls are going to be anything like thier furniture then they will be just cheap 2nd rate rubbish. I think I will buy my pork balls from my usual vendor.

Following the tread, you may be right, and I stand corrected: Apparently, IKEA is a giant meat-ball store. They also sell merchandising products, such as furniture.

However, if all their furniture comes from China, I wonder why they have had a buying office in Bangkok for so many years. Maybe they don't even know that Bangkok is not in China? Oh dear, the things we learn on ThaiVisa.

[tombkk]

... the problem of Thai laziness and incompetence IS a problem for any foreign company expecting to plant their flag in Thailand and replicate their successful business model here ... they bring the right software and the right hardware, but the inferior Thai workforce is the greatest threat to success here.

Wow. That's quite a statement considering that many MNCs are moving here, investing heavily, as they see the skill level of the Thai work force superior to other countries in the region. What is exactly is your background that you make statements like this, contracting leading practitioners and economists?

I think you should become famous for the insight you can share with us. I am looking forward to your elaborations and a link to your previous publications. Apparently, we can all learn from you!

[tombkk]

What is exactly is your background that you make statements like this, contracting leading practitioners and economists?

Cannot edit, but please replace "contracting" with "contradicting".

[trogers]

Sure it's all made in China but what isn't - these days that doesn't mean anything. Both the best and the worst quality products are made there. It's more important who makes it in China..

The best furniture I've found in Viet Nam is made in Thailand!

I don't like the VN style of furniture but anything 'Western' style comes from Thailand.

But made to measure or built in funiture is actually made in China and is better than local VN cabinetry.

Correct. Interior works of 4-5 star hotels in Vietnam were done by skilled workmen from China and Thailand, and not by the locals there.

[asiawatcher]

My experiences in the few items purchased from Index, were all bad. None of the products lasted 12 months. Heavy chipboard subject to Asian humidity swells in the first wet season. From then on it is all down hill. Chaise Lounge - fabric survived but the springs collapsed as did the metal catches and so on. Metal occasional table is still holding up as not much that can go wrong with it. No Index is a dive. Ikea will be an interesting competitor if they can contain pricing and offer superior quality.

[arthurwait]

"We offer consumers prices 1020 per cent lower than our competitors' similar basic products and up to 4050 per cent cheaper for midend to premium products," he said.

All products or just the occasional loss leader he asked knowingly

I had no idea there was an ikea in BKK, but I went to Index Living Mall last month and was much impressed. Are the prices at ikea BKK comparable? BTW, is most of the stuff at Index made in Thailand, or is it just good quality Chinese? Thx!!!

Good quality at Index ? Are you kidding ?

You've either been here too long or you normally buy furniture made from cardboard and stuck together with Pritt stick.

[PoorSucker]

Because I used to live in Sweden, all the Thai neighbours and friends will come to me and ask to assemble the flat packs.

Do you really believe that Somchai will read the instructions before he throws them.

Somchai knows how to assemble.

[Jawnie]

At the risk of being a real dummy, can anyone tell me if there is now an Ikea open in Bangkok? And, if so, where it is located so that I can go there to shop?

Internet and forum searches are inconclusive (or I'm just a dummy).

TIA

[tombkk]

At the risk of being a real dummy, can anyone tell me if there is now an Ikea open in Bangkok? And, if so, where it is located so that I can go there to shop?

Internet and forum searches are inconclusive (or I'm just a dummy).

TIA

From the Original Post in this thread:

"Both new stores, which will be opened within the next five years, are anticipated to be similar in size to the first Bangkok Ikea in Bang Na, which will have 43,000 square metres of total retail space when it opens late this year."

It means that the first store will open in Bang Na late this year.