MOSCOW (Reuters) – Belarusian furnishings firm Swed Home, which sells objects meant to seem like these made by Swedish big IKEA, opened its first retailer in Moscow on Saturday to a combined preliminary response from shoppers.

IKEA halted all retail and manufacturing operations in Russia quickly after Moscow began its “particular army operation” in opposition to Ukraine, together with scores of different Western firms.

“We aren’t IKEA – we purpose to be like IKEA, we’ve our personal manufacturers, our personal items. Sure, we’ve IKEA objects as effectively,” mentioned Swed Home normal director Mamedali Kasymov.

“We promote them — 15% to twenty% of our vary are authentic IKEA merchandise. No person prohibited us from doing this … our personal Swed Home items are in large demand as effectively,” he mentioned, referring to the packed retailer.

Clients inside the shop, who declined to offer their surnames, supplied differing views.

“We now have been lacking IKEA lots recently. This new retailer is, as an instance, a pleasing starting,” mentioned Natalia.

Others mentioned the premises have been too small.

“Items should not be simply mendacity on prime of one another. IKEA had a sure strategy to product placement … you could possibly lie on beds, take a look at the furnishings,” mentioned Iohann. “If these guys wish to enhance, the street forward remains to be very lengthy.”

Swed Home initially goals to open 5 shops in Moscow malls earlier than transferring into different Russian areas subsequent yr, Kasymov mentioned. IKEA briefly resumed on-line gross sales final summer season and a part of the corporate nonetheless operates 14 MEGA-branded procuring malls in Russia.