IKEA's Pasay branch aims higher after beating 470 stores in global win
MANILA, Philippines — Executives behind the Pasay branch of Swedish home brand IKEA promised to further improve the store’s services after it received IKEA’s "Store of the Year" award.
Last November, the Pasay branch received the recognition at a ceremony at IKEA’s main headquarters in Älmhult, Sweden, beating more than 470 other stores in 63 countries.
During a celebratory event on May 14 at the branch’s top floor, store manager Daniel Rivero said the award was a starting point for the store to become even better. He expounded on this later in an exclusive interview with Philstar.com.
According to Rivero, winning the award was not the store’s primary goal. Staff had focused on being helpful to customers, presenting the brand’s range as best as possible, adapting to Filipino tastes and staying relevant in the market.
"Why is it the starting point? Because it's very easy to live with all the winning things and then not continue to develop. It's not in our DNA in IKEA," Rivero said.
Rivero admitted the Pasay team was not perfect and, being human, still made mistakes, which they rectify and move forward from.
"Something that is good could be always better especially in a big store," he said.
Related: IKEA Pasay celebrates 'Store of the Year' honor, hall of fame status
Surprise win
When Rivero and other representatives from the branch flew to Älmhult, they had no idea they would win and were even surprised to be on the nominee list.
Country retail manager Ricardo Pinheiro recounted to Philstar.com how Rivero prepared 14 pages of documentation to be submitted for the awards requirement. Pinheiro said his ears perked up when details from what they had written were mentioned at the ceremony.
While 14 pages may appear long for documentation, Rivero said they followed a template exactly, presenting key figures, internal audits, co-worker surveys and other details explaining how the store functions.
"It take a couple of weeks to fill up because there is not only one person, we involve marketing, sales..." Rivero said. "We review because, of course, we want to give a good document."
IKEA Pasay was awarded a trophy featuring a stone taken from an original wall built by IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad.
IKEA Philippines will also send 12 employees on a learning journey to Älmhult to deepen their connection to the home design brand’s culture and values.
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