Ikea sees lower sales, less impulse buying

Newsroom 18/01/2010 | 15:57

Swedish furniture retailer Ikea saw its annual sales fall by 9 percent last year on the previous year, while the number of visitors to its Bucharest store was also down, at 2.5 million compared to 3 million

in 2008, the company has announced.

Ikea sold EUR 83.2 million worth of furniture and food in its Bucharest store last year. “Despite a drop in the numbers of visitors and sold products, the Bucharest store is still in the top third of Ikea stores worldwide based on 2009 sales,” said Cornel Oprisan, retail manager of Ikea Romania.

The firm sold 10 million products last year, three million fewer than in 2008. Furniture made up 60 percent of the sold products, the rest being accessories and decorations.

“The fact that total sales dropped by a lower percentage than the fall in the number of visitors or sold products means fewer products were sold, but the value per product increased, which reflects the move towards planning acquisitions rather than buying on impulse,” said Oprisan.