IKEA Appoints Amy Jensen to Manage Future Las Vegas Store

IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, today announced the appointment of Amy Jensen as manager of its future store opening Summer 2016 in Las Vegas, NV. Until IKEA Las Vegas opens as the 42nd U.S. IKEA store and first in Nevada, customers can shop at the closest IKEA stores: Covina, CA; Tempe, AZ, or Draper, UT; or online at IKEA-USA.com.

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“We are very excited about opening a store in Las Vegas, where there are many IKEA customers as well as others who may not know us yet, but are anxious for us to open,” said IKEA U.S. president Lars Petersson. “Amy’s management experience and background in key functions of IKEA operations more than qualify her to manage IKEA Las Vegas.”

“IKEA recognizes the strong customer base that exists in Southern Nevada, so I am pleased about providing the more than 101,000 customers – who currently are shopping at IKEA elsewhere – with a store of their own,” Jensen said. “I also look forward to introducing new customers to our unique product offering and family-friendly shopping experience.”

A native of Michigan, Jensen, who relocated to Nevada from Central Texas, joined IKEA in 1991 as a purchasing assistant at an IKEA trading company in Hamburg, Germany. She returned to the U.S. in 1994, serving in various roles for IKEA in distribution services and supply chain management. In 2003, Jensen transitioned to the role of logistics specialist supporting the opening of new IKEA stores in: Tempe, AZ; Frisco, TX; Bolingbrook, IL; Stoughton, MA; and Round Rock, TX. In 2006, she was named logistics manager at the Austin-area store in Round Rock, TX, and four years later became operations manager of IKEA Round Rock where Jensen served until now becoming IKEA Las Vegas store manager.

The 351,000 square-foot future IKEA Las Vegas store, with 1,300 parking spaces, is being built on 26 acres along the northern side of the 215 Beltway at Durango Drive, near Sunset Road, and will open Summer 2016. The store will reflect the unique architectural design for which IKEA is known worldwide, and host Nevada’s largest single-use retail rooftop solar array, consistent with the solar presence at 90% of IKEA U.S. locations.

IKEA Las Vegas will feature nearly 10,000 exclusively designed items, 50 inspirational room-settings, three model home interiors, a supervised children’s play area, and a 450-seat restaurant serving Swedish specialties such as meatballs with lingonberries and salmon plates, as well as American dishes. Other family-friendly features include a ‘Children’s IKEA’ area in the Showroom, baby care rooms, play areas throughout the store and preferred parking. In addition to 500 jobs expected during construction, 300 coworkers will join the IKEA family when the store opens. Diverse positions at this employer of choice include: home furnishings sales, interior design, customer service, safety and security, cashiers, maintenance, goods flow, receiving, warehouse and stock replenishment. Also, IKEA Las Vegas will offer more than 60 food service opportunities in its Restaurant, Swedish Food Market, Café Bistro and coworker cafeteria. IKEA Las Vegas also will provide annual sales and property tax revenue for local governments and schools.

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 370 IKEA stores in 47 countries, including 41 in the U.S. IKEA has been ranked among “Best Companies to Work For” and, as further investment in its coworkers, has raised its own minimum wage twice in two years. 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.

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