Redundancies are running high in the public service and throughout the economy but giant global retailer Ikea will next year recruit 400 staff to work in its first New Zealand store.
Fabian Winterbine, Ikea group’s Sydney-based expansion manager, is heading operations to open the store and said today many roles would be advertised from the start of 2025.
Staff were needed for the showrooms, restaurant, in interior design, visual merchandising, display, management and the warehouse so Ikea can open later next year on Clemow Dr, Mt Wellington beside Sylvia Park.
Staff will also be needed for Ikea’s new warehouse at The Landing on Auckland Airport land at Māngere, Winterbine said.
“We’ve recruited the steering team or management of the store and we’re just finishing that now. We need a big team due to the way we will run operations in New Zealand,” he said.
Up to 20 staff already work for Ikea in this country.
In January, the retailer would seek some fulfilment or warehouse staff. The new warehouse will be handed to Ikea in December so then it will start fitting that out early next year and start receiving shipments into that warehouse.
Recruitment of other staff is expected to start around April.
Winterbine said Ikea would operate in a somewhat unusual way here although it won’t be unique to Ikea’s operations in some other countries.
“What’s unique about the New Zealand set-up is everything will go through the store in terms of fulfilment. Overseas, we often work with a customer distribution centre so resources are split between different units. In New Zealand, we will have an external warehouse. When people in New Zealand buy Ikea online, goods will go via the Sylvia Park store, fulfilled out of that store.”
That meant more efficiency and stock holdings did not need to be doubled up.
“In the volumes we’re dealing with, we will keep goods in the store and whether customers buy online and want click and collect or home delivery, that will be done via the store. We do have this in different parts of the world.”
Staff will often specialise in different areas like kitchen planning, the food market, bistro or restaurant.
Storeroom people specialising in logistics, including forklift drivers would also be needed, he said.
Ikea calls staff co-workers “because it’s just something Ikea has always done. Ikea is from Sweden and very much connected to roots there, being very democratic so we don’t have a lot of hierarchical system in terms of structure. It’s fairly flat.”
Ensuring the operation acknowledged te ao Māori was another important aspect in planning, he said.
“This is something we’re working on. We’ve engaged the local iwi and groups. We’ve involved them across the design of the store but now we’re working with different community groups in terms of how we can support them with jobs but it’s still fairly early in terms of specifics. It’s something we will share in the coming months. There will be the inclusion of te reo Māori in our communications.”
Ikea has a page ‘work with us’ dedicated so New Zealanders can register their interest, using this page to advertise jobs “so stay tuned”. It is also on LinkedIn and has a dedicated careers page.
Online, it says staff benefits include:
Ikea says: “When we stand up for equality, diversity and inclusion, when we promote health and wellbeing for our people, and the planet, when we lead by example – that’s why we’re constantly trying to find better ways to get things done, and to bring out the best in ourselves and others.”
A sales department manager position advertised on November 11 said: “As our store operates seven days per week, you must have the availability to work a rotating roster with a mix of day and evening shifts. You also have the availability to work alternating weekend shifts, both Saturday and Sunday.” It offered $85,000 to $115,000 gross and said experience was required for the role, starting in April.
As for that elusive opening date, Winterbine says it remains the last quarter of next year but he won’t be specific about exactly when. Ikea does plan to announce that though.
Clive Mackenzie, CEO of Kiwi Property which sold Ikea its site for the store, this week talked about the Ikea effect.
“They’re a really strong, powerful retailer. It adds strength to the precinct,” he said. Ikea bought the 3.2ha site where Naylor Love is building the new store. Naylor Love also built Resido and other offices at Sylvia Park.
Anne Gibson has been the Herald’s property editor for 24 years, written books and covered property extensively here and overseas.