IKEA Annonces New Store Manager Within The LA Market: Patricia Gray to Head IKEA Carson Store

Furniture World Magazine

IKEA, the leading home furnishings retailer, announced today the appointment of Patricia Gray to store manager of the IKEA Carson store. One of four store managers within the Los Angeles market, Gray will be responsible for the operational and merchandising activities for the store, as well as customer and sales development. For the past two years Gray served as general manager of IKEA Direct, the sales channel which handles all non-store customer orders and provides customer service support for the IKEA stores in the United States. Gray most recently handled the development and construction of the new IKEA Customer Care Center in Baltimore, Maryland, one of two customer care centers in the U.S. "Pat has consistently delivered impressive results for IKEA Direct since she joined the company," said Pernille Spiers-Lopez, President, IKEA U.S. and Canada. "We are thrilled she has accepted this new position as she brings a lot to the IKEA Carson store and community. She offers many great business strengths, and her bilingual skills will be a welcome asset to the Carson store." "IKEA offers its co-worker family the opportunity to take on new challenges and helps support professional, as well as personal growth," explained Pat Gray, store manager IKEA Carson. "I am looking forward to my new responsibilities as store manager, and working together with my Carson co-workers in serving our customers and the local community." Prior to joining IKEA, Gray led successful sale and service operations both at Southwestern Bell Communications (SBC) and in the financial services industry for the past 20 years. A proven community relation's builder, her SBC background also includes positions in external relations. Gray is an active member in Zeta Phi Beta sorority, Links Incorporated and was a White House appointed delegate to the Preparatory Meetings for the 4th World Conference on Women at the United Nations. She graduated from Hendrix College (Conway, AR) with a BA in Economics and Business, and is a past member of the Arkansas State Board of Higher Education and the Hendrix Board of Trustees. The 220,000 square foot IKEA Carson store first opened in November 1992, and was the first three-level IKEA store in North America. IKEA Carson, located at 20700 South Avalon Boulevard, is one of six stores in California. The other West Coast stores are located in Burbank, City of Industry, Emeryville, San Diego and Tustin. Since its founding in 1943, IKEA has offered a wide range of home furnishings and accessories of good design and function, at prices so low that the majority of the people can afford them. IKEA is recognized as a socially responsible company, and continuously supports initiatives that benefit causes such as children and the environment. Currently, IKEA has 164 stores in 31 countries, including 15 stores in the United States and eight stores in Canada. To visit the IKEA web site, please go to http://www.ikea-usa.com.