Tag: #ikea

IKEA is opening a new store on Roblox… and you could be paid to work there!

IKEA has unveiled a first look at ‘The Co-Worker Game’, a virtual universe coming to Roblox on June 24th. The immersive experience gives players the opportunity to experience IKEA’s unique approach to careers where non-linear career journeys are the norm and lateral moves across departments are commonplace.

As well as being the brand’s first foray into mainstream gaming, the virtual store will give people a chance to immerse themselves in the working world of IKEA. With a limited number of paid, virtual co-worker roles available in the game.

Applications for roles in the virtual store open today (3rd June, 2024) and close on Sunday 16th June, with paid shifts for 10 new co-workers up for grabs. Successful applicants will be able to flex their skills, help customers, and get promoted to move departments, just like in the real world.

Alongside the paid co-workers, the broader Roblox community, gamers and IKEA fans alike will be able to work, explore and experience the virtual world of IKEA on Roblox.

They can venture to IKEA’s famous Swedish Food Market and Bistro and serve up endless amounts of meatballs or stop over at the various showrooms and use famous IKEA products to organise the space – say hello to HEMNES heaven. All with the chance to win exclusive IKEA UGCs.

Darren Taylor, Country People and Culture Manager, IKEA UK and Ireland: “We’re excited to be the first brand to launch paid work on Roblox to showcase how we do careers differently, bringing our unique careers philosophy to life.  

 At IKEA, there is no set route to career progression. Our co-workers are able to change roles, switch departments, and grow in any direction they choose, both in the game or in the real world. There are many ways to learn and grow at IKEA, and that’s what IKEA on Roblox is all about.“

Virtual interviews for shortlisted applicants will take place for this fully remote virtual role on June 14th, 17th and 18th. Each successful applicant will be paid an hourly IKEA Co-Worker rate for their time on the game.

IKEA on Roblox, developed by The Gang, a Swedish game design company, launches on June 24th.

For more information, the full terms and conditions and details on how to apply, please visit:  http://thecoworker.co.uk

For more information about careers at IKEA and how they’re done different, please visit: https://ikea.ie/careers

*Paid players must be 18+ and in UK or ROI to apply. This promotion is not affiliated with Roblox.  Roblox is not responsible for the fulfilment of any compensation or rewards related to this promotion, nor will participation create or result in any employment or other worker relationship with Roblox.

IKEA opens its first Distribution Centre in Ireland

IKEA Ireland is today opening its state-of-the-art distribution centre in Rathcoole, Co. Dublin, marking a significant milestone in the company’s expansion within Ireland. This new facility, employing over 200 people, follows investments in six plan and order points, upgrades to the Ballymun store, and an innovative collaboration with Tesco Ireland on affordable collection service, all to bring IKEA closer to customers across the country.
The new distribution centre will result in IKEA’s business in Ireland having one of the shortest delivery times in Europe. Before now, IKEA deliveries to Irish consumers required dispatch from the UK. With the inauguration of this new multi-million-euro facility in Ireland, delivery times will reduce to just three days. This strategic move not only brings IKEA products closer to its Irish customers but also significantly improves product availability throughout Ireland.

The vast distribution centre is over 27,000 square metres, has a storage capacity of 20,000 cubic metres – equal to over 258,000 flatpack BILLY bookcases or double the size of Croke Park pitch – and is capable of housing up to 9,000 different product lines, spanning across almost every product in the IKEA range.

IKEA expects the distribution centre to be making more than 300,000 deliveries in the first year of operation, with that figure almost doubling to nearly 600,000 within five years. Eventually the plan is to be able to deliver up to three million items a year from the centre.

“The opening of Ireland’s first IKEA distribution centre will greatly benefit our customers through faster and more reliable deliveries. It marks a key step in our ambitious expansion plans across Ireland. We remain committed to – and are continually investing in – the future of our physical store in Dublin, but we want people to enjoy the IKEA experience no matter where they choose to engage with us, whether through our full-size store, plan and order points, or online. This new distribution centre will greatly enable this, by increasing availability of our products and reducing lead times”

Jakob BertilssonCountry Customer Fulfilment Manager, IKEA Ireland and UK

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

This new distribution centre also underscores IKEA’s firm commitment to sustainability. The building is one of the most sustainable and energy-efficient logistics facilities in Ireland. It has a Building Energy Rating (BER) of A2 and includes features like rainwater harvesting and roof-based solar panels.

IKEA is also transitioning to exclusive zero emission home deliveries, which together with locating the distribution centre closer to its customers, will result in significant reduction in CO2 emissions and more sustainable deliveries.From today, customers with Dublin Eircodes will receive their home deliveries in zero-emission vehicles. IKEA has committed to ensuring all deliveries to customers across Ireland will be exclusively in zero-emission vehicles by August 2025.

As the first step to advance towards this goal, 17 electric vans will deliver IKEA goods across the country, with the number of zero emissions vehicles doubling by August 2025. As of now, two zero emission vehicles will be based in Cork, two in Athlone, four at the Ballymun store, and nine at the new distribution centre. These 17 zero emission vans will replace diesel delivery vehicles, resulting in an estimated annual saving of 283,000 litres of diesel, equivalent to reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 750 tonnes per year.

To support the transition to zero emission deliveries, IKEA has established an extensive electric vehicle charging network at the distribution centre, comprising of three rapid charge points for quick top-ups and 20 overnight charging points for full recharges.

IKEA’s 8MW wind farm near Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim, will also support the retailer’s transition to zero-emission deliveries and use of 100% renewable energy to power the distribution centre and IKEA’s flagship store in Ballymun, Dublin. It is projected that the wind farm produces about twice the amount of electricity required by the new distribution centre and the Ballymun store.

Furthermore, to secure even more renewable energy for the future, Ingka Investments, the investment arm of the company, has invested in a 10GW offshore wind project portfolio in Ireland and UK.

“The opening of this new distribution centre not only demonstrates IKEA’s desire to become more accessible to our customers in Ireland, but also our commitment to sustainability and innovation. IKEA is committed to the Paris Agreement and to helping limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. By transitioning to zero emission deliveries and having an energy efficient distribution centre, we are playing our part in protecting the planet, and taking another significant step in our journey to becoming a climate positive business.”

Marsha SmithDeputy CEO of IKEA Ireland and UK

The launch of the logistics facility is operated by logistics firm and longstanding IKEA service provider, Wincanton.

James Wroath, CEO at Wincanton, added: “Wincanton is excited to mark this key milestone in the expansion of IKEA in Ireland, who will benefit from our unrivalled expertise and proven operational excellence in eFulfilment. The opening of this new, state-of-the-art distribution centre just outside of Dublin further strengthens a partnership focused on our shared goals of meeting IKEA’s customers’ needs quicker than ever before.”

Deliveries will be carried out by XPO Logistics, supporting IKEA on its journey to only deliver by zero-emission vehicles.

Dan Myers, Managing Director for UK and Ireland at XPO Logistics, said: “This is a huge milestone for IKEA in what is an important market for the business. The investment is a demonstration of IKEA’s confidence in Ireland. As a long term partner, we are committed to working together to create a better everyday life for many people which is also sustainable and aligned with our combined environmental commitments.”

IKEA steps into the gaming world and partners with ROG and ASUS launches October 1st #IKEA #Gaming

The new gaming range developed by IKEA in collaboration with Republic of Gamers (ROG) will launch in IKEA Ireland from 1st October, 2021. The stylish new furniture range puts gaming first and has been designed with gamers’ performance front of mind.

IKEA has a long history of developing smart home furnishing solutions and exploring how to improve life at home for the many people. With a rapidly growing gaming market and an ever-increasing number of gamers, IKEA set out to explore how to produce more ergonomic and functional solutions for a better, faster, and more successful gaming experience.

For the first in the series of IKEA’s new gaming range, IKEA partnered with ROG, an ASUS sub-brand, dedicated to creating the world’s best gaming hardware and software.

As one of the leading brands in the gaming industry, ROG design high quality, innovative hardware, and gear for gamers. By teaming up together, IKEA combine their home furnishing expertise with ROG’s deep understanding of gamer’s needs and knowledge of creating an exceptional gaming experience.

The complete range will target PC gamers and include six product families: UPPSPEL, LÅNESPELARE, MATCHSPEL, GRUPPSPEL, UTESPELARE and HUVUDSPELARE. The first, UPPSPEL, is designed in close collaboration with ROG, with the rest of series solely designed by IKEA. The UPPSPEL range includes a gaming desk, storage unit, pegboard & accessories, display cabinet and CPU stand with castors, priced between from €5 to €379

The subsequent product families were created using the insights and knowledge gained from the ROG partnership, ensuring the whole breadth of IKEA’s new gaming offering met the needs of the gamer; in particular, with regards to high performance, design, and price.

In total, the new gaming range includes more than 30 products, covering both furniture (gaming desks, chairs, and a drawer unit) and accessories (a mug holder, a mouse bungee, a neck pillow, headset/accessory stands, mouse/floor pads, a ring light and many more.) The new range offers gaming desks and chairs of varying price ranges to meet different target groups’ needs.

“We know a lot about gamer needs, pain points and expectations, and we want to design solutions for ultimate, immersive gaming experiences”, says designer at Republic of Gamers, Johnny Chan.

Driven by relentless innovation, the new range offers gamers a high-performing solution to home gaming setups, with performance and functionality at the heart of the design. The collaboration aims to provide relevant, functional, stylish, and affordable products allowing everyone to create their desired gaming setups within the home.

“Gamers globally know and love the ROG brand, and they trust it to deliver the most exciting gaming innovations in the market”, says Kris Huang, General Manager of the ASUS Gaming Gear and Accessory Business Unit. “Our new partnership with the experts at IKEA will allow ROG to find new and interesting ways to delight gamers in and around the home”.

“We believe there’s a lot to be done to democratise the gaming experience”, says Global Business Leader of Workspaces, IKEA of Sweden, Ewa Rychert. “We’ve taken the first step on our gaming journey, and have done it by offering consumers affordable, high-performing gaming products and complete home solutions that we hope reflect people’s personality and taste”.