At the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, IKEA China doubled down on its optimism for the country's booming market. 🛋️ Aleksey Efremov, the company's senior vice president, told CGTN that China's dynamic economy offers 'endless opportunities'—and lessons IKEA plans to share worldwide.
💡 Why it matters: With China's retail sector rebounding post-pandemic, global brands like IKEA are betting big on consumer demand. Efremov highlighted collaborations with local partners as key to their success, from smart home innovations to sustainable designs inspired by Chinese lifestyles.
🌐 Global classroom: 'What we learn here shapes our strategies everywhere,' Efremov said, pointing to China's tech-savvy shoppers and rapid digital adoption. The country now serves as a testing ground for IKEA's hybrid online-offline retail models.
📈 By the numbers: While exact figures weren't shared, IKEA has opened 37 stores across the Chinese mainland since 1998, with plans for smaller-format city-center shops to reach younger urbanites.
🎯 Youth connection: The brand's recent viral TikTok campaigns and anime-inspired product lines show how it's tapping into Gen-Z trends. 'China doesn’t just follow global patterns—it creates them,' Efremov added.
