Why Should We Shop at IKEA?

!±8± Why Should We Shop at IKEA?

In a world where Wal-Mart is king and growing more each and every day, why would anyone want to shop an IKEA store? That was my question too, so I decided to learn more about this different type of department store. It seems that IKEA is a private-owned company founded in Sweden in 1943 by a man named Ingvar Kamprad, who like Sam Walton started the store in his hometown. Like Mr. Walton he wanted to offer quality products at a reasonable price, and though IKEA has not had the huge growth like Wal-Mart stores, it has over 260 stores in over 35 countries. IKEA like Wal-Mart has also moved into the Internet with its website offering over 12,000 items online and receiving millions of visitors looking for products when a store may not be available in the customers area.

The store which used be considered a Niche type store, has blossomed into a mainstream shopping experience. It is true that IKEA was always known for its utilitarian furniture which needs to be assembled by the buyer. This was done to allow the company to offer its products at a substantial savings. Some people would make fun of the idea of having to aseemble all of their furniture, but many people also proudly display their IKEA furniture. In Europe it has became very successful offering its practically priced furniture, and moved into other areas of the home product lines as well.

My first experience in a IKEA store was in a shopping mall in Dubai, UAE. I thought the store to be very colorful and interesting. I thought that prices were high, but the quality and look was outstanding, and if I wanted some truly unique items for my home, I think would consider IKEA as the first place to shop. It leads you around through the store, in its one-way display technique. It was however nothing like a Wal-Mart in that the store is open and free of shopping isles, so that is one major difference of the two chain stores. IKEA has also one thing in common with Wal-Mart though; the majority of its products are no longer manufactured in the home country of Sweden. In the USA many customers lament that most of the Wal-Mart product line is now made in China, and with its growth IKEA has done this as well to keep costs down. One very unique thing about IKEA products is the single word names they have. To a new shopper of the chain it can cause some confusion, with some of the Nordic type names. One reason that the store does this is because of its founder Ingvar is dyslexic and was easily confused by product numbers.

IKEA stores sometimes have restaurants as well that feature Swedish food of course. There is also a returned item area where you can buy reduced priced products that have been returned. Some of the stores are independent stores, while most of them are part of shopping centers and malls. If you prefer a mail order catalog they have published one since 1951, and it is now available in many different languages. They also have a magazine called IKEA Family Live to showcase its products and furniture, So if you are seeking a truly different type of shopping experience I would recommend shopping at a IKEA store, just brush up on your Swedish.

Why Should We Shop at IKEA?

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A Ladies Experience With Ikea Online

!±8± A Ladies Experience With Ikea Online

I had probably heard the name Ikea for a couple of years now, in association with the foreign store that sells high quality furniture items at reasonable prices. But I did not know that they also had a great online catalog that allows you to order items from their website to be shipped to a self-service manufacture. There was so much time I wasted looking for a store location. If I had only thought to use Ikea Online.. So I did a search and found out about the online Ikea catalog.

Ikea Usa is the United States affiliate to the Ikea brand and is a home furnishing company seeking to sell quality furniture at very reasonable prices. I knew they did quite well in their retail stores, but I wanted to take a look at their online catalog to see what they offered. In taking a tour of the online Ikea catalog, I found that they offer pretty much everything including furniture for bedrooms, dining rooms, kitchens, living rooms, children's bedrooms, workspaces and even laundry rooms. Some of the items they offer include leather sofas, side tables, shelving units, built-in kitchens, sinks, counter tops, dining tables and computer workstations in addition to extras like house plants, rugs and curtains. In short, they had more than I thought they would have available.

So the next question that came to my mind was, "How are they able to make their online store work for shipping in the Usa?" One way the online Ikea catalog was successful was offering assembly of items for a price discount. And they're able to do that by working with manufacturers who regularly produce high-quality furniture. Then they use buyers from around the world to seek out great raw materials. Lastly, they buy their materials in large quantities, helping them to get great deals for their customers! It is an old concept, but always a successful technique, offering a great value at a lower price.

In this way they are able to sell their items at cheaper prices online is by packing their items flat, so that you can assemble them yourself when you get them home - a big cost-cutter. Also, they have you pick up the items at a self-service warehouse in your area. And the biggest cost reducer is having your order items online to avoid paying salesman at their own stores.

To see how cost-effective the online Ikea catalog really is, I gave them my own test. I decided to see how well I could furnish my small apartment living room on a 00 budget. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by the results. Since my walls are boring white, I thought I would give the room a splash of color, so first I chose a beautiful Frasig Red leather loveseat for 9.00. Not bad. Next I found a very contemporary-looking leather armchair that I chose in a pretty off-white with a beech veneer frame for 9.00. Next I found a very cool steel-colored TV stand with space for a DVD player and stereo system for .00. Then I found an off-white, five-shelf bookcase to match my leather chair for .99. Still doing well! Lastly, I found a cool off-white coffee table for .99 with enough left over for a .99 red and white area rug. Done! And at the end of the day, I spent 1.97 for leather furniture with nice accessories! Wow!

Now of course, I have to take into consideration that I might have to fork up quite a bit in shipping (I couldn't find out the actual cost without entering real financial information), and I won't know what level of quality I'm working with until I get the furniture home, but Ikea Usa does offer a fully-refundable 90-day return policy on most items, so I can return what I don't like. I must admit, after I designed my room, I wished I was buying with real money, but my game taught me that the online Ikea catalog can work well if you're ready to assemble on your own, which I am.

In the end, the online Ikea catalog seems to be a good idea. But don't take my word. Check as many reviews as you can from people who actually purchased items from them to know for sure that this is something you want to do. Use your purchasing power responsibly. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

A Ladies Experience With Ikea Online

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