Many people instantly think of IKEA when it is time to buy new furniture. The company gets a lot of hype, but there is still so many things that we do not know about it. For one thing, you probably have no idea what happens behind the scenes at the stores unless you have worked there at some point. Fortunately for us, employees have revealed insider secrets from the secrets of the companies to the most unbelievable facts to the most amazing shopping hacks for customers. Are you ready to learn everything you need to know about the most popular furniture shop in the world right now?
This Is Your Chance To Learn What It Is Really Like To Work At An IKEA Store
There Are Specific Guidelines About How The Stores Are Set Up
There are currently 313 stores spread out actress 38 countries and territories at the moment. If you have ever been to more than one, you might have noticed that they tend to look very similar. The reason for this is that IKEA has gone with a specific design for the stores. The signature blue bags have even been placed in a very specific way that would let people in the store would have one in sight at all times. “One could describe it as if IKEA grabs you by the hand and consciously guides you through the store in order to buy as much as possible,” a former employee by the name of Johan Stenebo revealed in The Truth About IKEA.
There Are Specific Guidelines About How The Stores Are Set Up
The IKEA Pathway Is Called The Long Natural Way
IKEA shoppers probably remember the grey aisles in the stores. This pathway wraps the whole store as it snakes around the various sections all the way to the checkout counters. You might be familiar with it, but you probably did not know that it comes with a name of its own. This area is known as the “Long Natural Way” and was designed to ensure that the shoppers are going to see all the items on offer at the huge stores. Aside from that, it is made to keep the shoppers on their toes the entire time. These paths curve after 50 feet, which ensures that the shoppers will not get bored as they shop.
The IKEA Pathway Is Called The Long Natural Way
You Can Use Shortcuts To Cut Through The Aisles
Of course, it is possible that the shopper does not have any time to spare. In the same vein, some people want to avoid coming in for a single item but leaving with ten other products. IKEA customers probably wish that they can avoid the endless pathways in the store. For times like this, it is handy to know that there are secret shortcuts that are ideal for skipping sections that you do not want to visit. Even though they are hidden, the public can use them. They have intentionally been made difficult to spot and might even resemble service doors. You are more than welcome to open these doors and explore the store. The only ones you need to avoid are those bearing “Employees Only” signs.
You Can Use Shortcuts To Cut Through The Aisles
They Change Frequently To Keep You On Your Toes
Ultimately, the goal of the stores is to let shoppers see as many items as possible in the hopes of getting them to buy more products. However, customers are probably going to use the shortcuts if the word spreads. IKEA has fashioned a way to avoid the secret from getting out. You see, they tend to change these shortcuts! A former employee called Paul Robertson shared, “They used to change them fairly frequently because we had a lot of repeat business, so customers would get familiar with the shortcuts and know how to zip through.” He went on, “After a while they would change the shortcuts to force people to go around the long way again.” It definitely sounds like they have thought of everything!
They Change Frequently To Keep You On Your Toes
You Can Actually Sleep On The Beds And Couches
If you ever find yourself yawning while shopping at IKEA, we are sure that you have thought about napping on the sample beds. The good news is that there is no problem with sleeping in the beds! People just assume that it is not allowed. However, IKEA stores have all the products on display to let people sit, touch, feel, and even sleep on them. This is done so that customers will have a proper feel for the products and hopefully be enticed to buy them. There is nothing wrong with a quick nap, but employees wake up customers if they have been sleeping for two to three hours already.
You Can Actually Sleep On The Beds And Couches
But Think Twice Before You Lie Down On Them
We know that it is awesome to learn that you can sleep on the couches and beds on display. But the truth is that the beds are not for the faint of heart. As you can imagine, they are not in the cleanest possible condition. According to an employee at the store, the pillows on the beds in the showroom are changed once a month… if that. The same goes for the pillowcases, sheets, blankets, and duvet covers. They are only changed when they seem visibly dirty. Even though the beds are comfy, you might want to think twice before lying down on them.
But Think Twice Before You Lie Down On Them
Be Cautious Of The ‘Open The Wallet’ Section
This is a familiar story among shoppers. People go to IKEA to buy a chair or table that they needed but end up walking out with more. Kitchen items, piles of napkins, tea lights, and flowerpots somehow make it to our carts. You can blame the “Open the Wallet” section for these impulse buys. This area seems to have just about every single small item that you never knew you needed. The section is present in all of the stores and uses the same name. It is cool that they came up with such a perfect name for it because buyers really do open their wallets here. It looks like none of us can resist a lint roller for 99 cents!
Be Cautious Of The ‘Open The Wallet’ Section
The Books On The Shelves Are Owned By The Employees
Did you know that the IKEA display rooms have been designed to seem lived in? This way, shoppers can easily imagine living in the rooms. It would have been hard to achieve that effect if the bookcases are empty. That is why IKEA puts a lot of books on the display bookshelves. However, most shoppers have no idea where the books came from. In reality, they come from the personal bookshelves of the managers and employees of the store. Yes, they bring their own things to the store. They are allowed to bring anything within reason. Employees, however, have to follow a theme and bring suitable books.
The Books On The Shelves Are Owned By The Employees
The Naming System Used By IKEA
If you take a look at the IKEA catalog, you are going to think that they use Nordic gibberish to name the products. Perhaps you have even heard the rumors that they do not mean anything. These are only rumors, however. In fact, IKEA uses a straightforward method to name the products. The shelves are named after their jobs in Swedish. For example, Expedit is just shopkeeper in English. On the other hand, the bookcases have boy names like Billy. Rugs, meanwhile, are named after Swedish and Danish towns like Kattrup. The outdoor furniture pieces are named after Scandinavian islands, while the pillowcases and bed sheets are named after plants and flowers. The curtains and fabrics have female names too.
The Naming System Used By IKEA
Why The Bins Always Seem Full To The Brim
There is another IKEA classic every couple of steps on the winding pathway. We are referring to the overflowing bins that are often full of things like stuffed animals, pillows, slippers, bins, and other smaller items. They come with a huge banner with a very low price point. They are usually full to the brim and are constantly refilled for a good reason. This is known as the “bulla bulla” method, and an article by the New Yorker has revealed that the store uses a system that involves purposely filling them. This is done to give the shoppers the feeling of “volume and, therefore, inexpensiveness.”
Why The Bins Always Seem Full To The Brim
Employees Have Witnessed A Lot Of Lovers’ Quarrels
While we also love IKEA, we can’t help but admit that it can be stressful. It is even worse when you are part of a couple. After all, you have to make a lot of important decisions but have a lot of options right in front of you. Employees have revealed that they have seen many lovers’ quarrels take place in the stores. “I had a couple trying to make a decision on a rug and he was mad and she was on the verge of tears. Then we were out of the rug they wanted, which made it even worse,” one employee told Mental Floss. As a matter of fact, The Wall Street Journal said that a couples’ therapist has gone as far as to whip up IKEA checklists for the clients. Building an IKEA desk is a great exercise in communication!
Employees Have Witnessed A Lot Of Lovers’ Quarrels
IKEA Is Even Better When The Customers Are Gone
Nonetheless, it can also be very fun to spend the whole day at an IKEA store. The only thing better might just be spending the night there. Something happens once all the customers have left for the day. Employees practically have the warehouse all to themselves, so they have a huge space for different kinds of activities after hours. According to some employees, they hold races on the pallet jacks that are found right before the checkout counters. Apparently, the stores make for a great maze to use when they want to play hide and seek! We do not know about you, but that sounds like a lot of fun to us.
IKEA Is Even Better When The Customers Are Gone
The Ideal Time To Shop At IKEA
You have probably heard of stories about intense and pushy shoppers at IKEA. On the other hand, there are also people who fall into a trance as they check out the aisles aimlessly. Ideally, you will reach a sweet spot and get your shopping done without feeling frustrated. It is a good thing that IKEA employees have revealed that there is a span of time for the perfect shopping experience. According to them, you should avoid going to IKEA on the weekends. A weekday is better but not as soon as the store opens its doors. Employees say that it is better to go around an hour or two after the opening hour. This way, you can avoid the early bird shoppers who are always determined and intense when it comes to shopping. During this window of time, you are free to shop around as you please.
The Ideal Time To Shop At IKEA
The “As Is” Section Is At Its Best On Mondays
If you are a committed IKEA shopper, you might already know about a section known as “As Is.” For those unfamiliar with it, the area is full of items that have some kind of small damage. This includes dented packaging or returned items that are sold at very low prices. They can make for great bargains on their own, but there is a way to get even better deals. The best idea is to head over to the “As Is” section on Mondays. This is because people return items on weekends more than any other time of the week! That is the reason the “As Is” section is at its best at the beginning of the week.
The “As Is” Section Is At Its Best On Mondays
Store Employees Do Not Bother Customers For A Reason
We are sure that you have gotten annoyed with an overeager employee at a store in the past. This sort of thing is not going to happen in an IKEA. The truth is that it is very American for employees to approach customers and see if they need help with anything. The Swedish company has told employees to avoid doing this. “You were supposed to only help customers if they asked you for it,” a former employee revealed to Mental Floss. “We were told that’s a very Scandinavian way of how stores work.” IKEA employees mind their own business and only help when they are approached or see customers who are visibly struggling with something.
Store Employees Do Not Bother Customers For A Reason
The Biggest Pet Peeve Of IKEA Employees
It is not a real IKEA shopping trip if you do not feel, touch, and lay down on the products at the store. We all know how tempting it is to touch everything in sight. However, there is something that IKEA employees want us to stop doing. According to former employees, their biggest pest peeve would be customers that open boxes and check out the items there. It might be nice to check that everything is inside, but this can be done at the checkout counter. This makes their job a lot harder because they can no longer sell an item once a customer opens something on display! When this happens, the products are scanned and then taken off the display floor.
The Biggest Pet Peeve Of IKEA Employees
The Codes Are Not As Random As You Might Think
When you do serious shopping at IKEA, you need one of those small golf pencils to write down the codes for the furniture pieces in the warehouse section of the store. While the codes look like a random combination of numbers and letters, they actually carry a certain rhyme and reason. There is a method to this madness! Did you know that the letters and numbers in the codes can tell you something about the product? Take a look at the last two digits since they indicate the color of the item. When the last two digits start with 4, it means that it is blue. For example, 41 might indicate that it is light blue, but 42 would be dark blue.
The Codes Are Not As Random As You Might Think
The Most Popular Items At IKEA
Even though the IKEA Lack table is simple, but it has become a huge hit. In fact, the least expensive coffee table on the catalog has received its very own profile by The Washington Post. Let us take a look at the other products that shoppers cannot seem to get enough of. The Billy bookcase is another popular item. People just love the tall, plain bookshelf that is available in a variety of colors and sizes. Aside from these two, other bestsellers are the Malm bed, the Poäng chair, the Rens rug, the Ektorp sofa, and the cube Kallax bookshelf. Maybe you even have one or more of them in your own home!
The Most Popular Items At IKEA
Turning It Into A One Stop Shop
Let us give credit where it is due. It goes without saying that the folks who come up with the IKEA display rooms are amazing at their job. They do not only make beautiful rooms, but they also make us feel like buying everything in the room! The truth is that this has actually happened in the past. We do not know if the shoppers just felt lazy, were indecisive, or simply fell in love with the room design. They did not just buy the key pieces but every single thing from the lights to the furniture pieces to the rugs. IKEA might not be marketed as a “one stop shop,” but it can be considered one!
Turning It Into A One Stop Shop
It Is Possible To Move All The Walls There
It would get boring if the rooms stayed the same way for all of eternity. This is the reason the employees at IKEA frequently change the way they look. That way, shoppers can see new items right away. With all these changes, it makes sense that all the walls in the store are easy to move. Even so, shoppers should not move the walls on their own. The wheels are not only hidden and locked during store hours! Once the store closes its doors for the night, the employees move the walls to let the cleaning crews clean the entire place in an easy and efficient manner.
It Is Possible To Move All The Walls There
Employees Talk To Each Other In Code
As you shuffle through the aisles of IKEA, you might occasionally hear a voice on the loudspeaker talking in “codes.” This is how the employees communicate with one another with some semblance of privacy. The practice is not particularly unique to the Swedish company either, but former employees have revealed what several codes mean. An employee from Texas informed Mental Floss that Code 22 is used to let the other employees know that there are long lines at the registers. This also means that those who have been trained for the register should help out. Meanwhile, Code 99 is used when a kid has gotten lost. “There are so many wardrobes to hide in or bed skirts to hide under,” she revealed.
Employees Talk To Each Other In Code
The Job Comes With Neat Benefits
It might not look like it, but there is a benefit to running around the store to get the customers a lamp that they saw at a different part of the store. IKEA employees get to enjoy a lot of cool perks. They do not just get to enjoy employee discounts, but they also get awesome gifts at the end of the year. This is actually a tradition for them. An IKEA employee called Rob shared that he got a bike during the first year that he worked at the store. The year after that, he brought home a Roku. Aside from that, a couple of employees are lucky enough to get airplane tickets to the destination of their dreams!
The Job Comes With Neat Benefits
Employees Keep Up With The Trends
Interior designers and decorators have fallen in love with Pinterest. If you want to turn those pins into reality, the first thing on your agenda is probably to visit IKEA. We are not shocked to learn that employees at the store know how to use Pinterest. An employee recounted how they saw a viral post that talked about using an IKEA spice rack as a converted shelving unit for the kid’s room. Not long after that, the BEKVÄM spice rack flew off the shelf in record time! Managers like to stay updated on viral decoration posts to figure out which things they need to have in stock.
Employees Keep Up With The Trends
The People On The Catalogs Are Real IKEA Employees
The New Yorker said that the furniture giant is “obsessed with lista, which translate as ‘making do.’” This is the reason IKEA is so different from other companies. It makes do with what it has through various practices such as getting store employees to model for the catalogs. The CEO himself makes use of this lifestyle. While Ingvar Kamprad, the founder, used to be one of the wealthiest men on the planet, he still follows a humble lifestyle. You might be shocked to hear about some of his habits! An article by the New Yorker said that he “drives a beat-up Volvo…is reported to recycle tea bags…[and] is known to pocket the salt and pepper packets at restaurants”,
The People On The Catalogs Are Real IKEA Employees
If The Package Is Missing A Piece Or Two
Is there anything as frustrating as arriving home, unpacking your IKEA boxes, and finding out that it is missing a small piece? Sadly, it actually happens more than we would like. If you ever find yourself in one of these situations, you should just head over to the spare parts section of the store. From the name itself, you can probably guess what you are going to find in there. This is where you can get all the bolts, nuts, screws, and small pieces that might be missing from your package. If you do not have the time or energy to visit the store, some locations offer a special service. It might be possible for you to simply call the local IKEA store and ask them to deliver even the tiniest pieces!
If The Package Is Missing A Piece Or Two