Swedish retail giant IKEA is set to reopen stores across Scotland on Monday.
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 June 29.
All IKEA stores across Scotland will be open for customer on June 22.
Taking social distancing and safe ways of working into considerations, stores will implement 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.
- Social Distance Wardens placed throughout the store.
- 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.
- 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 and Ireland Country CEO and CSO, said: “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.”
He continued: “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.”
