IKEA now has four stores in Greece, with the opening of its Larissa location on October 15. The Fourlis Group plans to open a fifth IKEA store in Ioannina by early 2010, with the goal of increasing its 14 percent share of the Greek home market and meeting consumer demand for “affordable, trendy”* furniture.
Photo by John Karakatsanis
* Note: “Affordable” and “trendy” are adjectives used by locals to describe IKEA. I do not agree.
Stores
Addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and hours of operation for each location in Greece. All feature a restaurant, supervised playroom and free parking (spaces limited).
1. IKEA Athens – Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, Spata
19019 Spata
Tel: 801 11 22 722
Fax: (210) 35 43 599
E-mail: cs.athenseast@IKEA.gr
Open: Monday – Friday 10.00 – 21.00 and Saturday 10.00 – 20.00
2. IKEA Thessaloniki
12th km Thessalonikis – Piraeus
57001 Pylaia
Tel: 801 11 22 722
Fax: (2310) 475 150
E-mail: cs.thessaloniki@Ikea.gr
Open: Monday – Friday 10.00 – 21.00 and Saturday 10.00 – 20.00
3. IKEA Athens – Aigaleo
Kifissou 96
12241 Aigaleo
Tel: 801 11 22 722
Fax: 210 5400599
E-mail: cs.athenscenter@ikea.gr
Open: Monday – Friday 10.00 – 21.00 and Saturday 10.00 – 20.00
4. IKEA Larissa – Thessaly
8th km Old National Road Larissa-Athens
41500 Nikaia
Tel: 801 11 22 722
Fax: (2410) 568 599
E-mail: cs.thessalia@ikea.gr
Open: Monday – Friday 10.00 – 21.00 and Saturday 10.00 – 20.00
Size: 18,500 sq. meters
Parking spaces: 1136
5. IKEA Ioannina – Opening early 2010
6. IKEA Athens (3rd store) – Announced for end of 2011
7. IKEA Xanthi – Announced for end of 2011
8. IKEA Crete – Announced. But as of August 2009, it was still being debated as to whether to build a physical store in Irakleio or an online store to serve all Greek islands.
The Fourlis Group said its expansion to 10-12 IKEA stores in the Balkans by 2013 is on track, despite a 42.6% decrease in net profits.
IKEA Greece Web site
In Greek and English (limited).
IKEA Web sites abroad can be accessed by going to www.ikea.com and selecting a country.
IKEA Greece Catalogue in English
The 2010 IKEA Greece catalogue was delivered to homes all over the country in July 2009 and is offered only in Greek. The online version can be found at, “IKEA Greece online catalogue.”
There is no printed version in English. However, a presentation similar to the IKEA Greece catalogue can be viewed online in English by using the one from Ireland. See “IKEA Ireland online catalogue in English.”
They are not identical, as each contains country-specific information, but both versions have 384 pages and feature the same products with relatively the same layout. Take note that IKEA Greece and IKEA Ireland are owned by different companies, so the Irish catalogue should only be used for translation purposes, not as an indicator of prices in Greece.
IKEA Greece does not currently have an e-store for online shopping or the option to place orders by phone. But saying and spelling IKEA (Ικεα) in Greek is the same in English.
Delivery
IKEA delivers everywhere on mainland Greece and the Greek islands using independent contractors. Shoppers can view a price list and make arrangements in person at the help desk located in the area after checkout and before the exit; some staff speak English. Arrangements cannot be made by phone or via e-mail because customer service notes the condition of your items, then calculates costs based on number of items, weight and delivery location. Curbside delivery is customary, and an extra charge applies for door-to-door service.
Appointments are normally four-hour windows in morning, afternoon and evening, including Saturdays, and you can request that the Greek-speaking delivery person call an hour before arrival. Recipients or an authorized representative (assigned via police-certified dilosi) must be home to receive items and should inspect them for damage before refusing or consenting to sign the receipt of satisfactory acceptance.
IKEA Greece does not offer furniture assembly, but independent contractors can be hired for a fee.
Why are IKEA prices in Greece so high?
In addition to being a year behind other countries in its offerings, IKEA Greece is often up to double even triple the price of other stores worldwide.
When I made a direct inquiry to IKEA headquarters as to why prices in Greece are higher in spite of its proximity to Sweden, IKEA said that each franchise is entitled to set their own prices, either making products more affordable for consumers or earning more profit for themselves. The Fourlis Group — which owns the exclusive franchise rights for IKEA in Greece, Bulgaria and Cyprus — obviously made the latter choice.
Want to work for IKEA in Greece?
The Fourlis Group maintains a ‘Careers’ database of job vacancies at: www.fourlisgroup-careers.gr
* Non-EU citizens must have authorization to work in Greece. See, “How Americans/non-EU citizens can live and work in Greece.”
Sources
“Fourlis opens door to fourth IKEA store in Greece” – eKathimerini
“Fourlis to invest 30 million euros” – eKathimerini
“Fourlis secures 100 percent control of IKEA franchise in Bulgaria” – Fourlis
“Ικανοποιητικά τα αποτελεσμάτα της ΙΚΕΑ για το τρίτο τρίμηνο, λέει ο Fourlis” – Ta Nea
“ΙΚΕΑ: 10-12 καταστήματα μέχρι το 2013” – Imerisia
“Δέκα ΙΚΕΑ έως το 2010 από τον όμιλο Φουρλή”
In the News
“Greek retailer Fourlis Group nine-month profits down 32 percent” (November 2009) – Reuters
“Downturn hits Fourlis’ IKEA sales” (February 2010) – Kathimerini
Related posts
“IKEA vs. IKA – there is a difference”
“IKEA Dubai vs. IKEA Athens” – Waiting for Skopelos
“Name and shame: Fleecing and IKEA furniture delivery” – Greek Madness
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Kat Reply:
January 4th, 2010 at 00:55
This question is already answered in the article above, near the end. Assuming you are an EU citizen, just follow the first link for the Fourlis Group under “Want to work for IKEA in Greece?” They list all the open vacancies.
If you are a non-EU citizen, you need a work permit before applying for any vacancies, and in that case would follow the second link under the same heading.