RENTON, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, today announced that recruitment of 50 additional coworkers is underway for its relocated Seattle-area store, on track to open Spring 2017 next door from the current store in Renton, WA. Candidates interested in working at the new Seattle-area IKEA store should apply online at www.SeeACareerWithUs.com.
“We are thrilled that our move to a newer, more sustainable building allows us to offer 50 new jobs with limitless opportunity at a global company known for being a great place to work,” said Diedre Goodchild, store manager. “We believe it is as fun to work at IKEA as it is to shop at IKEA. So, we want coworkers to enjoy their job and contribute to the success of our new store.”
As the new Renton store progresses through the construction process, IKEA is looking to add 50 coworkers in a variety of positions including: home furnishings sales, customer service, cashiers, warehouse receiving, stock replenishment, and food service. Setting itself apart from other retailers, IKEA offers food service opportunities in its Restaurant, Swedish Food Market, Exit Bistro and coworker cafeteria.
Drawing from the company’s Swedish heritage, IKEA offers family-friendly initiatives and diverse workplace benefits including full medical/dental insurance to coworkers working 20 hours or more per week with eligibility for domestic partners and children. Other benefits include: vacation, paid maternity/paternity leave and paid time off for child adoption, tuition assistance, a bonus program, 401(k) matching, a pension plan, professional development, training and mentoring programs, free uniforms, and – of course – a discount for shopping at IKEA.
This year, IKEA was voted by coworkers as a Great Place to Work® on the ‘Fortune 20 Best Retail Workplaces’ list, received a 100% score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2016 Corporate Equality Index, and was listed as #3 on Forbes’ list of “Happiest Retailers to Work For.” Previously, the company has been included in rankings of “Best Companies to Work For” and, as further investment in its coworkers, has raised its own minimum wage twice in two years.
The organization puts career opportunity into the hands of the individual, encouraging coworkers to consider assignments within different functions, at other IKEA stores or even in other countries. IKEA prides itself on the fact an opportunity at IKEA truly can evolve into a career, potentially paving the way for a global experience as well. The company also places value and emphasis on coworkers’ personal lives and the importance of a work/life balance.
The 399,000-square-foot new Seattle-area store, with its 1,600 parking spaces, is being built on the 29-acre IKEA parcel’s parking lot in Renton, near State Highway 167, approximately 11 miles southeast of downtown Seattle. While the new Renton building will reflect the more updated store design and layout for which IKEA stores are known worldwide, it will offer the same 10,000 exclusively designed items as the previous store, as well as other similar elements of the unique IKEA shopping experience, including a larger restaurant serving Swedish specialties.
Building the new IKEA store created 500 construction jobs and will generate even more annual sales and property tax revenue to the city and local schools. IKEA is also installing Washington’s largest rooftop solar array atop the new store, complementing its current U.S. goal of a renewable energy presence at nearly 90% of its U.S. locations.
Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered home furnishings of good design and function, at low prices so the majority of people can afford them. There are currently more than 380 IKEA stores in 48 countries, including 42 in the U.S. IKEA incorporates sustainability into day-to-day business and supports initiatives that benefit children and the environment. For more information see IKEA-USA.com, @IKEAUSANews, @IKEAUSA or IKEAUSA on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.
