IKEA Announces Frank Briel As Manager of New Store In Stoughton, MA

Furniture World Magazine

IKEA, a leading home furnishings retailer, announced the appointment of Frank Briel as store manager for the IKEA store opening this fall in Stoughton, MA. The store will be the Swedish company's first in Massachusetts, second in New England and 26th in the U.S. (IKEA New Haven, CT - at the intersection of I-95 and I-91 - opened last summer and already is drawing customers from throughout the region.) "We have been looking forward to the opening of a store in the Boston area for quite a while and are excited that the time is fast approaching," noted IKEA North America president Pernille Spiers-Lopez. "Frank Briel's experience as a store manager, as well as his leadership of our U.S. sales group, have prepared him for managing IKEA Stoughton, where there are customers who already are IKEA fans as well as consumers who may not know us yet." "IKEA recognizes the strong customer base that exists for us in Massachusetts and throughout New England, so I am very pleased about the opportunity to provide these customers with a store right here in Stoughton," explained Briel. "Also, I am looking forward to introducing new customers to our unique family-friendly shopping experience and wide selection of affordable home furnishings that can be taken home on the day of purchase." Briel, who has relocated to New England from the Philadelphia area, has served in a variety of retail positions prior to becoming store manager for IKEA Stoughton. A native of Pennsylvania, he started his IKEA career in 1990 as manager of kitchen sales for IKEA Elizabeth (NJ), and then became furniture manager at that store. Five years later, Briel was part of the team spearheading the IKEA outpost in Manhattan as part of a pilot program bringing the unique IKEA product offering closer to New York City residents. Shortly thereafter, Briel was named store manager of IKEA Woodbridge (VA), outside Washington, D.C., where he worked until 1999. Most recently, Briel led the U.S. sales department in the IKEA North America office in suburban Philadelphia. Under construction in Stoughton, MA along Route 24, the 346,000 square-foot IKEA store will create 500 construction jobs and welcome more than 500 coworkers into the IKEA family when the new store opens. IKEA Stoughton will present 50 different room settings, four model homes, a supervised children's play area, as well as a 300-seat restaurant serving Swedish specialties such as meatballs with lingonberries or salmon plates, as well as American dishes too. Other family-friendly features will include a Children's IKEA area in the showroom, baby care rooms, preferred parking and play areas throughout the store. IKEA currently has more than 210 stores in 33 countries, including 23 in the U.S., where other stores being planned will be located in: Bolingbrook, IL; Brooklyn, NY; Canton, MI; Frisco, TX; Dublin, CA; Somerville, MA; and West Sacramento, CA. Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered home furnishings and accessories of good design and function, at low prices so the majority of the people can afford them. IKEA has been named - for two years in a row - to Working Mother magazine's annual list of the "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers," and this year to Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work For." IKEA is recognized as a socially responsible company, and continuously supports initiatives that benefit causes such as children and the environment. To visit the IKEA Web site, please go to http://www.ikea-usa.com. For information about working at IKEA, please visit http://JobsAt.IKEA-usa.com.