CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IKEA the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, today announced the appointment of Diedre Goodchild as manager of its future San Antonio-area store, opening Winter 2019 in Live Oak, TX.

“We are very excited about opening the fifth IKEA store in Texas, and believe that Diedre is a perfect fit to lead the team,” said IKEA U.S. president Lars Petersson. “Her in-depth IKEA experience and knowledge stemming from a 23-year career at IKEA Renton, make her qualified to meet customer needs and represent the future IKEA Live Oak store.”

Washington State native, Goodchild, who relocated to San Antonio from the Seattle area, joined IKEA in 1995 as a cashier and cash administrator at the IKEA Renton store. She quickly moved to become a marketplace shopkeeper in 2000, the communication and interior design manager at the store in 2003 and sales manager in 2006. Most recently, Goodchild served as store manager of IKEA Renton for the past eight years.

Additionally, as IKEA Live Oak progresses through the construction process, nearly 250 positions are now open to local residents.

“IKEA recognizes the customer base that exists in the San Antonio-area, and I look forward to providing existing customers as well as future new customers with a store of their own,” Goodchild said. “At the same time, I also am excited about growing the IKEA culture among new co-workers in San Antonio. We are thrilled to offer jobseekers diverse positions with limitless opportunity at a global company known for being a great place to work, and believe it is as fun to work at IKEA as it is to shop at IKEA.”

Prospective co-workers can visit www.seeacareerwithus.com to apply for the approximately 200 diverse positions available in: home furnishings sales, interior design/visual merchandising, customer service, safety and security, cashiers, facility management, warehouse receiving, stock replenishment, and child play area supervision. Also, setting itself apart from other retailers, IKEA Live Oak offers approximately 50 food service opportunities in its Restaurant, Swedish Food Market, Exit Bistro and co-worker cafeteria.

Drawing from the company’s Swedish heritage, IKEA offers family-friendly initiatives and diverse workplace benefits including full medical/dental insurance to co-workers working 20 hours or more per week with eligibility for domestic partners and children. Other benefits include: vacation, paid maternity/paternity leave and paid time off for child adoption, tuition assistance, a bonus program, 401(k) matching, a pension plan, professional development, training and mentoring programs, free uniforms, and – of course – a discount for shopping at IKEA.

The 289,000-square-foot future IKEA Live Oak store will reflect the same unique architectural design for which IKEA stores are known worldwide. It will be built on 31 acres at the southwest corner of Interstate 35 and Loop 1604, approximately 15 miles northeast of downtown San Antonio. The future IKEA Live Oak will feature nearly 10,000 exclusively designed items, multiple inspirational room-settings, three model home interiors, a supervised children’s play area, and a restaurant serving Swedish specialties such as meatballs with lingonberries and salmon plates, as well as American dishes. IKEA is also evaluating potential on-site power generation to complement its current U.S. renewable energy presence at 90% of its U.S. locations.

About IKEA

Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered home furnishings of good design and function at low prices so the majority of people can afford them. There are currently 423 IKEA stores in 52 countries, including 48 in the U.S. IKEA has been included in rankings of “Best Companies to Work For” and strives to be an employer of choice. IKEA incorporates sustainability into day-to-day business and supports initiatives that benefit children and the environment. For more information see IKEA-USA.com, @IKEAUSA, @IKEAUSANews, or IKEAUSA on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.