Ikea's online sales surged 45% as homes are turned into offices, schools

Swedish furniture retailer Ikea's online sales surged 45 percent over the 12 months to August, driven by 4 billion visits to its website as people turned their homes into makeshift schools and offices.

Outdoor furniture was Ikea's fastest-growing category, followed by office furniture.

Ikea also started began selling online in three new markets, including China.

But Ikea plans to keep opening physical outlets despite the probability that consumers may not revert to their old shopping habits.

Sales have held up better than other categories during the pandemic, insulating retailers like Ikea from widespread job losses and bankruptcies elsewhere.

Ikea added 6,000 employees to its global workforce, taking the total to 217,000.

Despite the pandemic and surge in online sales, Ikea opened 33 new stores, including in Seoul, Moscow, Macau, and Shanghai.

There are also plans to expand into new markets like the Philippines and Mexico.

The Ingka Group, which operates 374 Ikea stores, pointed out that life at home has become more important than ever, leading to a repurposing of the home in many ways.

Inter Ikea Group CEO Jon Abrahamsson Ring said that customers still love their stores and visited its outlets during the period.

The company said it would continue with its "total market approach," offering smaller showrooms.