Ikea decides to accept the euro at Belfast store

THE SWEDISH furniture giant Ikea is to reverse a decision not to accept the euro at its Belfast store.

The group has accepted payment for goods only in sterling since it opened its doors for business in the North last December.

But as a result of the huge numbers of customers it now attracts on a daily basis from the Republic it is currently in the process of installing new systems to facilitate transactions in euro.

Prices will continue to be displayed in sterling, with exchange rates posted at till points. Ikea hopes to "go live" with accepting euro by the end of next month.

Stephen Gibson, assistant store manager at Ikea's Belfast store, said the decision reflected the retailer's popularity with shoppers from across the island.

"There is no set pattern but on an average weekday 10 to 15 per cent of our customers could be from the Republic.

"Often at weekends and bank holidays we could be in the position where a third of our customers are from the Republic. All you have to do is look at our car park to see where people are travelling from to Ikea - there are a significant number of cars with Republic of Ireland registrations and they are from all over the Republic - not just areas which are close to the border or Dublin."

It is estimated that about 10,000 people visit the store on weekdays, with more than 15,000 per day on weekends.

Gibson said it is not unusual for store managers to find shoppers from the Republic queuing outside the store before it opens.

Ikea recently announced plans to create an additional 100 jobs at its Belfast store - this will take the total number of people employed in the North to more than 600.