Swedish home-furnishing giant IKEA is launching its services in Tamil Nadu through an online-first approach, eight years after opening its first store in India. Deliveries will begin on January 22 in major cities including Chennai and Coimbatore. Physical stores are planned for the future as part of a broader expansion.
IKEA, the Swedish home-furnishing retailer, is making its entry into Tamil Nadu with an online-first strategy, marking eight years since its debut in India with a physical store in Hyderabad in 2018. The company has responded to years of customer interest, including cross-city shopping from Tamil Nadu residents to existing stores in Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
Deliveries across Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, and Salem will start on January 22, fulfilled mainly through IKEA's Bengaluru distribution network with support from Pune. Orders are expected within three to five days, with delivery charges beginning at ₹69 for small items and ₹799 for furniture.
"We’re starting in Chennai the same way IKEA started 80 years ago — by reaching people where they are," said Patrik Antoni, CEO of IKEA India. He emphasized that physical stores will follow as the company evolves its omnichannel presence. IKEA already has over 25,000 family members in the state, based on consumer research, home visits, and online data.
India is among the few global markets where IKEA adopts a digital-first approach to gauge demand before investing in physical infrastructure. "Online helps us learn before we build," noted Bhavana Jaiswal, Country E-commerce Integration Manager. This strategy ensures stores are locally relevant from the outset.
Sustainability is integral to IKEA's operations in India, from product design using FSC-certified wood and recycled materials to electric last-mile deliveries. The company sources about 30% of its global volume from India through 44 suppliers and aims to power all operations with renewable energy within the next year. Antoni described India as a long-term market, potentially one of IKEA's largest over decades.