Ballymun store was Ikea’s best performer globally when it reopened on May 17th

Ikea's store at Ballymun in Dublin was the busiest of any of the Swedish furniture giant's outlets worldwide when it reopened its doors to customers after Covid-19 lockdown restrictions on May 17th last.

"On reopening day Ikea's Ballymun store was placed number one Ikea store in the world in terms of turnover," a spokeswoman for Ikea Ireland said. .

The Ballymun store was “the highest performing” of the group’s 378 outlets across 30 countries on May 17th even with Covid-19 restrictions. Before the pandemic the store could accommodate 6,000 customers but on its reopening day the capacity was limited to 1,000 at a time with “social distance wardens” in the store keeping people apart.

The most popular items purchased on reopening day were the KALLAX range of storage units, TARNO outdoor furniture along with frying pans and picture frames, the spokeswoman said.

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The performance on reopening day was surpassed four days later when Ikea Ireland recorded its busiest day of trading since the pandemic began with 7,000 customers passing through its doors in Ballymun.

On sales trends during the pandemic, the spokeswoman said: “We have also seen a particular uplift in desks and work desk chairs due the increase in the number of people working from home, summer furniture due to the good weather we’ve experienced over recent months, and home furnishing accessories that help to enhance and personalise an individual’s space, including picture frames, plants and candles.”

On any plans to open another store here, she said: “Ireland is a market where we believe expansion opportunities exist. However, at this moment we have no confirmed plans. Covid-19 has not had any impact on this.”