The opening of IKEA in Gemini Park Bielsko-Biała is a milestone for both the local community and the regional retail market. The 2,000 sq. m. store is based on the brand’s latest global concept: a more compact footprint that retains all the essential functions of a full-scale IKEA warehouse. Notably, this is the first store of this format in both Poland and Europe to be integrated into a shopping center.

The new location will offer over 3,000 interior design products, with more than 1,000 available for immediate purchase. The remaining assortment can be conveniently ordered for home delivery. The store will also feature seasonal novelties and revolving interior arrangements. An integral part of the store is the Planning and Ordering Studio – relocated inside the premises – where customers can receive professional support for kitchen and storage system design. Additionally, the store will offer a catering section featuring iconic Swedish meatballs, fries, ice cream, and coffee.

IKEA unpacks at Gemini Park

The debut of this high-profile tenant is supported by a marketing campaign centered around the theme of “moving in” to Gemini Park Bielsko-Biała. Since September 22nd, a Fiat 126p (the iconic “Maluch”) branded in IKEA colors with characteristic moving boxes on its roof has been touring the streets of Bielsko-Biała to announce the opening. This was complemented by a sampling campaign where 1,500 iconic blue FRAKTA bags were distributed to shoppers, preparing them for the new IKEA format.

The campaign will culminate in a two-day “housewarming party” on October 3rd and 4th. A special zone resembling a spacious living room furnished with IKEA products will be set up in the mall’s main plaza. Residents can celebrate the opening with music, Swedish snacks, and various activities. Furthermore, customers will have the chance to win prizes totaling nearly PLN 50,000. Shoppers who spend a minimum of PLN 200 at the center will receive one of 500 IKEA gift cards worth PLN 50, with hourly chances to win a grand prize of PLN 1,000 for a shopping spree at the new Bielsko-Biała store.

“Our goal was to make the IKEA opening at Gemini Park Bielsko-Biała more than just a standard retail event. We wanted to create an immersive experience that combines emotional engagement with real value for the local community,” says Marcin Ochmański, Marketing Director at Gemini Park Bielsko-Biała. “The welcome campaign is the result of close, partnership-driven cooperation with the brand. This project aligns perfectly with both the center’s strategy and IKEA’s image – it is social, family-oriented, and builds a sense of community around an event of regional importance.”

This opening is not the first collaboration between the two brands. In recent years, Gemini Park and IKEA have executed several high-impact campaigns in Bielsko-Biała, including the city’s first “Great Furniture Assembly Tournament” and a popular “Hidden Products” contest. The success of these past initiatives serves as a strong foundation for the debut of IKEA’s new concept at Gemini Park.