ikea-ites incredibly insane ithink
clark_brooks permalink | categories: business, development, retail, tampa, yborby clark_brooks @ 6:16 am
Made up words beginning with the letter “i” are very popular these days: iPod, iMeem, IHOP. One of the most popular made-up i-words in the whole, wide world is poised to hit Tampa in 2009 but is already making a major impact: Ikea.
The Dutch home products retailer broke ground on their new store here in Tampa this past Wednesday with the intent of opening next summer. This news is apparently a very big deal as noted in the St. Pete Times:
“The field of dirt featured no sparkling showrooms, no cafeteria with Swedish meatballs, no stylish furniture to buy.
Yet Claire Pustarfi, Kelly Hickman and Charlene Beverly were giddy over the possibilities as they scurried across a dusty lot to attend Wednesday’s Ikea store groundbreaking ceremony.”
Here’s another i-word for you: iDon’tgetit.
I’m not being critical. Seriously. I don’t know enough anything about the Ikea phenomenon to criticize it so that wouldn’t be fair. But when the rubber meets the road, it is just a store…right? And a store that isn’t even going to open for more than a year shouldn’t inspire rational people to scurry giddily around construction sites and lovingly create blogs about the subject, should it?
Yet when I ask questions like these (strictly in an attempt to become informed, not to create mockery…honest) to those who do know, I sort of feel like I’m facing down Donald Sutherland at the end of “Invasion Of The Body Snatchers“:
“So what’s the big deal?”
“It’s Ikea! It’s amazing! The Ikea experience is coming to Tampa!”
“‘The Ikea experience’?!? Now I’m getting scared.”
“You shouldn’t be. You’re not afraid of Target, right?”
“I guess not. Target is a fine store.”
“Okay, Ikea is like Target on steroids!”
“Well, why didn’t you say so? You know there’s no endorsement that carries more weight with me than association with a substance that has done so much for so many people!”
“Why do you hate Ikea, Clark?”
“I don’t hate Ikea! I just don’t understand. I mean, it’s a furniture store, right?”
“No, it’s not just ‘a furniture store’. It’s a complete marketplace environment that is going to feature 10,000 exclusively designed items, three model home interiors, 50 room settings, a 300 seat restaurant and a supervised play area for children.”
“Wow. You sure know a lot about Ikea.”
“And it’s going to employ 400 people, Clark. And I’m going to be one of them! I’m going to work for Ikea. For free. That’s right! They don’t have to pay me. It will be reward enough to just be there, letting Ikea wash over me like golden rays of light.”
“I’m…going to leave now.”
“Have a meatball, Clark. You’ll feel better. Ikeabots, seize him!”
Cross posted at Ridiculously inconsistent trickle of consciousness
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June 10th, 2008 at 6:57 am
Resistance is futile.
June 10th, 2008 at 7:25 am
The first time visiting Ikea really *is* an experience. It takes several hours to get through the store and by the time you’re done it’s complete sensory overload.
The second time it’s just tiring and you start to feel like a rat in a maze.
I’m hoping a third will mean I know my way around enough to get in, get what I want, and get out, like any other store. Of course the Tampa location will probably have a completely different layout than the Orlando one, and destroy any hope of that.
June 10th, 2008 at 9:18 am
I totally know where you’re coming from. I mean, I love IKEA, but when the one here in Orlando opened last year, it was pandemonium! You would think folks had never been to a furniture/home furnishings store EVER!
Mainly I think it’s just the novelty of having something new and affordable. Regardless, I still love a weekend jaunt to IKEA.
June 10th, 2008 at 10:12 am
IKEA is Swedish, though they have a major office in Holland, it’s Swedish through and through.
IKEA is an acronym for Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd (Swedish home furnishings retailer founder’s initials and hometown location).
IKEA is a experience for sure, you will walk through and your mind sswims wih possibilities and you wallet goes… “hey that’s only $3, get it!”
It’s Europe’s version of walmart only they make all the items themselves, you won’t find a single thing in IKEA sold anywhere else.
If you hate crowds thought wait about 4 months, and don’t go on a weekend. The first two months will be like a rock concert every day, including the event parking staff. If you go midweek getting in and out is much easier. but opening month it’s a sardine can.
June 10th, 2008 at 10:39 am
I am not a mindless IKEAbot or anything like that, but I really do like IKEA.
I used to see the stores in Canada when I lived up north, and as a kid thought the blue and yellow was the ugliest thing on the planet.
But I like how IKEA is departmentalized. Most of your shopping is done in smaller rooms, not a big warehouse of rows and such, and it just feels more intimate. It’s almost like going on a journey through the store, and they have things that no one else does.
For instance, we needed one computer desk that could hold two computer towers, two monitors, and still have space for other things. We went to every store we could think of and couldn’t find anything close. We almost bought two desks for a total of $300, but then IKEA opened and we checked it out. We were there on opening weekend in Orlando and the lines were horrendous. But we bought a TON of stuff for the new condo, including a two-computer desk and a TV stand — both of which we adore. Our total shopping experience? $225, including the double desk, tv stand, odds and ends, and lunch in the cafeteria.
Prices and such do make a difference, and we’re still very happy with our double computer desk!
June 10th, 2008 at 11:15 am
From my experience up north, people love or hate IKEA. Me? I’m closer to the, “No Thanks” end of the spectrum.
It’s been years so things could have changed but (1) the quality of the furniture wasn’t that great; and (2) most everything has to be put together with some weird little screwdriver-like tool that is unique to IKEA. Not my cup of tea.
It’s a way for young adults just starting out especially to get unique, stylish furniture for a reasonable price.
It will be huge.
What WP said.
June 10th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
LOL - love the Body Snatchers reference. I’m like you, I have never seen an Ikea store before. If it’s as good as everyone says it is, I hope I don’t wet myself when I go in for the first time…
June 12th, 2008 at 12:01 am
Funny you wrote about this. All the waitress at my job were talking the one in Orlando, then one of them said one was opening soon in Tampa, and then 10 waitresses proceeded to freak out. Haha. I had no idea what it was before that conversation.