Ikea launches cross-sea service to Ireland

Ikea today moved to meet the demand of its Irish fans, announcing a home delivery service by cross-sea ferry.

For a fee - from £80 to Northern Ireland and €127 to Ireland - customers will have larger goods transported from the firm’s store in Glasgow to their doorsteps.

With no Ikea of their own, Irish customers have been making the pilgrimage to Ikea’s Braehead store since it opened last year.

Dubbed the ‘‘Ikea trail’’, 14,000 trippers from across the Irish Sea are expected to visit the UK’s largest Ikea store this year.

Managers have reported as many as 13 coaches from Ireland arriving in one day.

But until now customers have been unable to transport larger items home.

Glasgow store manager Richard Ansell said: ‘‘The response from Northern Ireland and Eire has been quite amazing and we’ve been delighted to welcome so many visitors.

‘‘The proximity of the Glasgow store to the ferry port at Stranraer means visitors can maximise the time they have to shop here.

‘‘We’re also welcoming many visitors who are flying over for the day or weekend, and shopping is high on their itinerary.

‘‘While many of the shoppers are able to carry their purchases home by hand or on the coaches, we’ve been told many would appreciate a delivery service for larger items from our range of products.’’

The furniture giant said customers could expect their goods in 48 hours.