Janine Castillo | In-store Logistics

My goal has always been to work with business supply chains. I used to work on the purchasing side, which turned out to be more admin-oriented than I preferred. My new position focuses more on operations and analysis, which is a much better fit for me. I’m currently securing our living room range for our store opening. Sofas will definitely be a best seller here in the Philippines and I’m responsible for making sure we will have a healthy supply when our customers come to our store. Setting up a store in a new market also requires a lot of training to be able to manage the 8100+ articles we will offer, so I spend much of my time currently being attached to other IKEA stores in Southeast Asia.

I’m supporting the store in Malaysia, so after grabbing my morning coffee, I usually check in with them to see what incoming orders need extra attention. Next month we will phase in and out about 750 articles, which we do four times a year. We do this so that customers get excited and feel that there’s always something new and fun going on at IKEA.

I really enjoy working with Sales and Com&In. Together we make sure that all plans and activities become reality. Getting the right stock supply is vital so we don’t have to re-plan areas, run out of stock, and end up disappointing customers when they come and visit us. Logistics is the artery in our organization, and we are involved in every important decision made, which is a big and exciting responsibility.

Cost-consciousness may seem a little dry, but it involves caring for people’s time and making the best decisions for everyone in the organization. Working efficiently means that we can reduce our costs and lower the price of our products, which in the end benefits our customers. Another value that resonates with me is Simplicity – it can be complicated for the few, but it has to be simple for the many. Aiming to simplify processes helps us work better together and lets everyone focus on and spend more time on what they do best.

Prepare yourself for a big challenge but also the best journey of your life. You will constantly be pushed to find opportunities to grow in your role and as an individual. At IKEA, we love to learn and have fun at the same time. You should probably be borderline obsessive about home furnishing too!