What’s with the craze for Ikea?
Here’s a glimpse into an Ikea
Ikeas are quite a fancy place for Indians. They are located in just three cities of India as of now — Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bangalore.
I remember the craze and the rush when the latest Ikea opened in Bangalore. I was in the city for just 2 months and still can never forget that they opened in Nagasandra because their large hoardings from the Kempegowda airport to Bangalore-Chennai National Highway kept layering up on my memory everyday. Also, Ikea invites in the regional language, and connected well with the people.
Coming to the inside of an Ikea, I could visit the one at Turbhe in Navi Mumbai. Turbe is not an everyday place. There are a few offices, but Ikea would need a planned visit.
When you reach, you’ll start seeing ads starting from the basement.
Why do our designers create the price tag first? At Ikea, our designers main concern is to make good quality furniture at a price that is affordable.
Why are we obsessed with keeping things flat? Ikea’s furniture is flat-packed. It means it’s cheaper for us to store, transport and for you to take home.
Why do we make so many of everything? By producing and distributing in bulk, we get lower prices, which we pass on to you.
Why should I take my own furniture home? Taking the furniture home yourself means you can have it and enjoy it the same day.
Why isn’t there always an assistant when I need one? The information you need is on the price tag. Serving yourself means you don’t pay for the help you don’t need.
The copy is very much for YOU, building a customer-beneficial rapport even before you enter the giant furniture store.
The first thing you see is office furniture and stationery. Even when you look outside for the great view that you get because of Ikea being away from the city, you are left inspired.
Office is usually a non-family aspect of one’s life and now after looking at such elegant office spaces, you may feel inspired about work as well.
So right next to the office section is a kids play area. Want to shop child-free and focused? Drop them off before you start maybe?
Ikea is best at luring you into buying multiple items to compliment each other.
Storage containers? Well, they fit into each other when you stack them, so maybe buy more than one, even when they are priced separately for every piece?
Desk items? I love these porcelain cacti and can’t choose a couple, so maybe let me just get them all? They compliment each other.
And then there were these beautiful sunflowers with a prettier vase, again, sold separately.
I assume no one who has ever visited Ikea has been able to keep themselves away from the thought of owning a house. Ikea curates every house space beautifully.
And of course, to save you from hanger, there’s food! A basic three course meal with Ikea’s famous meatballs vegetarianized for India stores.
Concluding your day off shopping, you’ll find snacks again. Your home maybe a little far and you may be tired, so let’s offer you some food again.
Craze about Ikea is understandable. It’s business and product and marketing studies too, very much. Ikea is not just a large store, it’s an experience. And for Indians, it’s something novel. There’s Swedish text everywhere and the products are made in different countries and not just China. I got a baking tray made in Romania and a small souffle baking bowl made in Portugal, and it made me feel like a global shopper.
And as you exit the giant, you are waved off in Swedish, again.
And since you are human and you could’ve forgotten to buy something or left something you liked because you were a man of principle and persistent on the fact that you don’t need it, you can still browse back on Ikea online.
