Co-worker stories - Ahmad Eirzrein Bin Ahmad Shahaimi

I joined as an intern in 2012 while I was still studying in UITM and I was placed in visual merchandising. I loved my experience, and IKEA was my first choice as an employee the moment I graduated. I contacted IKEA upon my graduation and the rest, they say is history! I’m now a visual merchandiser attached with IKEA Cheras (in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Each visual merchandiser would have a department to take care of. A typical day for me would be walking the floor, pushing my trolley with my tools and heading to the Plant & Outdoors, Self-Serve Area and Swedish Food Market. I check the displays to ensure the safety of the racking, inspect the aesthetics of the display, to check whether the merchandise are properly placed in their racks, and to replenish where necessary.

A visual merchandiser has an influence on customers’ purchasing. In terms of layout and placement of the products, it is our job to influence the customer to buy. We also get to do interesting things like planning for store themes, for example, Christmas, Chinese New Year and other festivities. Understanding our role in inspiring customers makes the job all the more interesting, creative and fun.

The value I most identify with would be “Daring to be Different”. In IKEA, we are driven by our passion and initiative with the help and support of our managers. When it comes to decision making, we are free to make our own decisions, and this is especially inspiring as IKEA promotes not just teamwork, but we are encouraged to grow as an individual. This is amazing.

Be passionate about what you do. There are challenges and even if it takes up a lot of your time, sweat and tears, always remember that what you do is ultimately for the customers and creating a fantastic shopping experience for them. If you can identify with that, then IKEA is the right place for you. At the end of the day, IKEA is about doing things from the heart for the many people.