Ikea wants to help furnish and design small businesses

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Brandon Brown

A mock restaurant area furnished with Ikea furniture in the Ikea location in Tempe.

Brandon Brown

Reporter- Phoenix Business Journal

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By adding design and furnishing services for small business, the world's largest furniture retailer is trying to get into new areas of business in the U.S., starting in Arizona.

Tempe's Ikea will be the first Ikea in the country to offer consultative and planning services to small businesses. Ikea, located near Interstate 10 and Warner Road, will feature examples of what businesses can do with with the retailer's commercially rated furniture and it will offer free consultations and design services.

In the U.S. Ikea has always offered furniture that businesses could use, but it has never focused on it like it will now, said Becky Blaine, Ikea's local public relations and local marketing manager.

Blaine said Ikea researched Phoenix area small businesses and their furnishing needs for more than 18 months and, based off its findings, will launch its Ikea Business venture focusing on restaurant, office and retail spaces.

The in-store Ikea Business displays will open to the public Jan. 7. They all will be furnished with Ikea furniture and will include a restaurant, retail store, waiting room, office storage space, employee break room, hair salon and small coffee or yogurt shop.

Ikea stores in Europe offer similar services but U.S. stores have nothing like this yet, said Ikea Business Manager Andy Shannon.

Shannon spent a while on the phone with his counterpart in Italy getting ideas on what could make him successful, he said.

Shannon said his three-person team has already been busy consulting Phoenix area small businesses on what Ikea can offer. The Tempe Ikea is the only location between Dallas and San Diego, so Shannon and his team will work with any small business in the western region.

Brandon covers retail, restaurants, hospitality/tourism as well aviation, small business and nonprofits.