The world seems to have a love/hate relationship with IKEA…either you LOVE them or you HATE them. Me personally? I’m quite a fan of the fun and elaborate showroom. Who doesn’t love great prices, unique embellishments and meatballs?!
Easy Assemble/Disassemble Furniture
The second biggest complaint I hear when discussing an IKEA avoider is the time consuming construction of each and every piece of furniture. I mean really, who enjoys keeping up with screw style 1 and screw style 2 that hold only a mm of difference but when confused require you to completely disassemble and start over??
What about when you are preparing for a large move and you can’t quite get that couch out the door with the same ease it came in? The new IKEA line will have easy snap in parts that make assembly and disassembly a smooth, simple process!
Green Energy
IKEA is following the trend of Target, Apple, and Wal-Mart and going green with solar panels. Energy Manager today quoted that:
The Grand Prairie store, which will be 181,500 square feet, will produce about 2 million kilowatts of electricity a year. That, in turn, will avoid 1,406 tons of carbon each year, it said.
By 2020 IKEA plans to be powered by 100% renewable energy.
Remote Control Light
Yes, they have finally hit the trend, only these aren’t controlled by your phone but instead a small yellow circle you must keep up with. I don’t know how these will take to the market, but it will be exciting to watch.
Ridiculously Long Parental Leave in India
So what may be the most remarkable news I’ve read all week is India is working on passing a bill that requires mothers receive 26 weeks of PAID maternity leave post a baby. What a great way to keep women in the workforce, and thus keeping their pay more stable to male’s income.
Aside from that, IKEA has taken this law and extended it to fathers too! How amazing is that?!
Smaller Store Concept
So I saved the best for last, as the number one complaint I hear from IKEA avoiders is that they cannot handle the large expanse of the store. For those with old fashioned IKEA’s, keep in mind that the showroom is indeed optional, you are always free to head down to the shop immediately at the gates. 😉
The new store will sit on 6 acres in Dublin CA, but will have 30,000 less sq. ft than the current IKEA’s. Instead of surface parking they want to do their part to beautify the area with a walkable shopping area filled with boutiques and restaurants. Parking would be placed underground. The new store is set to open sometime in 2018.
References:
http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/04/03/dublin-ikea-revises-plans-for-controversial-new-store/
http://www.businessinsider.com/ikea-furniture-no-tools-wedge-dowel-2017-3
IKEA Employees in India to Receive 26 Weeks of Paid Parental Leave
https://www.energymanagertoday.com/corporate-managers-buying-solar-energy-0169043/
I haven’t been to IKEA in a number of years though I’ve bought a lot of stuff around our house from there. There’s not an IKEA store that real conveniently located to us–nearest one is maybe 10 miles or so (which really isn’t that bad). Just not much stuff like they carry that we’ve needed to buy in the past several years.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
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You know, I really haven’t shopped in an IKEA but twice since toddlers. ::gasp::
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I love Ikea. Maybe not on a Saturday afternoon but I love it. Once played a scavenger hunt there. Twenty selected items were given to us and we had to put them all in the bags, have them confirmed at the As Is section, and then put back on the shelves. Was so much fun.
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That does sound fun; I would rock the socks off that hunt!!!
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I suggest you find some competitors post haste. I look forward to reading about it
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I’ve always thought it would be a great place for a game of hide and seek! 🙂
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Hey, my replay from my phone never went… drat. Anyway what I think I said was something about thank god I’ve never been in one, and perhaps I mentioned a minotaur at some point. 🙂
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Nope, one of our other blogger friends talked about Ikea as well.. my point stands though 🙂 And hey turns out I DO know how to use my phone soo YAH!! ME!!!!
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Snap together parts sound cool. 🙂
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Ikea is the best! Great post about it ❤ 🙂
https://busybeeblogweb.wordpress.com
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