(L-R) Patty Schmid, alderman of the City of Arlon; Florian Di Cesare, Operation Manager; Olivier Waltzing alderman of the City of Arlon; Xavier Guiot, Store Manager; Philippe Landrain, 1st alderman of the City of Arlon; Ramadan Bensaad, Project Leader;
Credit: Ali Sahib, Chronicle.lu
On Tuesday 27 January 2026, IKEA Arlon officially presented its newly redesigned customer service area, during a press event that also marked the first media introduction of its new Store Manager, Xavier Guiot.
The event presented the new recovery and after-sales area, covering around 1,200 m², designed to provide customers with a clearer and more efficient experience while improving working conditions for store staff members.
The inauguration, attended by representatives of the City of Arlon in Belgium, featured keynote addresses by Store Manager Xavier Guiot, Project Leader Ramadan Bensaad and Operation Manager Florian Di Cesare.
The event began with a presentation of the new layouts and was followed by a guided tour of the new area, which included the express return zone, a rethought waiting and seating area for after-sales services, a sorting and recycling space, as well as the “Second Life” recovery area for second-hand items.
The new area also features the “bistro zone” with vending machines, a dedicated area for children, a gift table for wrapping purchases and access to the 30 most common spare parts, available free of charge for minor fixes such as missing screws.
In the opening address, Xavier Guiot said that he took up his role as Store Manager in September 2025 after eighteen years with IKEA. He began his career as a student employee in the picking area and later developed professionally through an internal management training programme. Over the years, he progressed through several operational and managerial roles before returning to Arlon as Store Manager after completing training periods in Liège and Anderlecht in Belgium.
Ramdam Bensaad then took the floor. “It is about offering new layouts, new counters, new seating areas for customers and better working stations for employees. This area had not been changed since the opening of the store 20 years ago, so it was the right moment to redesign it,” he said.
He highlighted that the project started in December 2025 and lasted almost one year from concept to completion. Construction work took place over approximately nine weeks and finished a few weeks before the inauguration.
“We rebuilt the entire area, [...] everything was demolished and reassembled to redefine the spaces according to the needs of customers and co-workers. The aisles [now] are wider, the areas are more clearly defined and the space is much more ergonomic,” he added.
Asked about the main objective of the enlargement, the project team noted to Chronicle.lu that it was not so important to increase capacity for growth, as to improve ergonomics, efficiency and the overall experience for both customers and workers.
Florian Di Cesare later guided the tour, offering a closer look at the upgraded spaces. He emphasised the sustainability and operational impact of the project. “By improving this area, we are increasing our capacity to repack, repair and resell products,” he said, pointing out the “Second Life” area. “Second-hand is growing fast and it is important for customers,” he added, mentioning that the store has been actively developing this offer for around two years.
