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India's Furniture Economy

IKEA Comes to India

How IKEA opened its first Indian store in Hyderabad in 2018 after years of FDI negotiations, adapted to Indian homes and faced local sourcing rules.

IKEA opened its first Indian store in Hyderabad in 2018.

FDI approval

IKEA got approval for 100% ownership in single-brand retail in 2013, after long talks.

Sourcing rules

Single-brand retailers with foreign ownership above 51% must source 30% locally; IKEA sources from Indian suppliers.

Adapting

  • Smaller homes.
  • Indian kitchens and cooking.
  • Home delivery and assembly services, since many Indians don’t assemble furniture themselves.
  • Affordable prices.

Expansion

Stores in Mumbai and Bengaluru, plus online sales.

Food

IKEA’s Hyderabad restaurant served biryani alongside meatballs.

The assembly service

Buyers at IKEA Hyderabad pay a small fee for home assembly of their flat-pack furniture.

Thinking IKEA sells the same in every country

It adapts to local homes.

Key takeaways
  • IKEA opened in Hyderabad in 2018.
  • It got 100% ownership approval in 2013.
  • It must source 30% locally.
  • It adapted to Indian homes.
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