Ikea Groningen. Photo: DVHNO
A major renovation of the Ikea in Groningen was completed on Tuesday. The store will deliver directly to customers who live in the upper half of the Netherlands, explains director Stefan Kroes.
Part of the parking lot of the Groningen store is being converted into a logistics center with nine extra loading bays. Ikea in Groningen will deliver throughout the top half of the Netherlands from Tuesday. According to director of the branch Stefan Kroes, there are about 500 orders and 50 trucks driving in and out every day.
As a result, fewer orders need to come from Oosterhout (the central distribution centre), the furniture chain argues. More and more customers order online and Ikea wants to respond to this with the new delivery center.
Same day delivery
The renovation makes same day delivery possible. If – depending on how far you live from Groningen – you order before a certain time, you will receive the items the same day. Delivery of large packages costs 49.95 euros. There is no limit to how big or heavy they can be. It is also possible to choose a customized delivery time with the order. Delivery of small packages is as before via PostNL and costs 2.95 euros.
Those who prefer to pick up the items themselves: the click & collect point goes from the store to the distribution center. For a tenner, the Ikea will prepare the order for you in a drive-through. According to Kroes, you can have it in the car within two and a half minutes.
Emission-free delivery
Orders that have to be delivered within 30 kilometers of the Groningen Ikea, go with an electric van. Ultimately, Ikea wants to deliver all orders emission-free, but that is gradually being expanded.
Kroes notices that more customers come to the store for (home) inspiration, only to think for a while at home and then order online. According to him, the new distribution center fits in well with this way of shopping. Because Groningen already had a very large warehouse, it was logical to build the northern distribution center there.
Ikea has hired 70 new people for the new logistics operation. In the long run, another 70 people will be added.