Incredible Value

IKEA offers a tremendous bargain to the savvy buyer - you just have to pick wisely. IKEA offers a wide range of quality - from very inexpensive (and inexpensively made) furniture made of particle board, to furniture made of high end, high quality materials like top-grade leather, silk, mohair and velvet.  Down fills the cushions of the STOCKHOLM line which also includes organic hand-blown glass for vases.  Sure, you can get a table that will crash and burn after your first song and dance on it, but you will still be able to afford to buy something better next time around!  And if you choose wisely in the first place, you might just have something that you grow tired of before it's ready to call it quits.

The Akurum kitchen cabinet system (called Faktum in Europe, Asia and Australia) is a perfect example of the high value available at IKEA.  In a summer of 2004 article, Consumer Reports rated the Akurum system at #4, and at 1/3 to 1/2 the price of the top 3 choices.  High end features, such as full extension, soft close drawers are standard, and the component based system makes it easy to buy only what you need to create your own perfect kitchen.  The cabinet system also offers incredible value for mudrooms, shops, craftrooms, sewing rooms and even offices.  

The kitchen isn't the only place that offers great value.  The PAX wardrobe system is another product range that provides huge bang for the buck - and it's not just for bedrooms!  PAX has been utilized for front hallway or mudroom storage, kitchen pantry storage and even living room or playroom storage.  With options such as shoe racks, pull-out shelves, hanging rails, laundry hampers, wire baskets and more, PAX can be used for any number of purposes.  

See also: 10 Keys to IKEA's Low Prices

Component Based Systems

Many of IKEA's product ranges are component based, meaning that the parts and pieces that make up the whole are sold separately.  IKEA doesn't do a great job of making this clear, so many people think that what's in the catalog is all that's available.  Not so!  With a component based system comes flexibility.  A bit of creativity, a little legwork and some help from IKEAFANS,  and you might just find that you have the ability to adapt the product to your exact requirements.  For instance - there are 2 very common ways to modify the standard sink base, which neither the IKEA catalog, nor the IKEA co-worker you work with is going to tell you about.  Read more here:Sink Base Modifications

Another often overlooked benefit to a component based system is that you only pay for what you need.  If you decide that you would rather have full-height drawers for a pull-out cabinet instead of having drawers above, you simply don't purchase the shorter doors and the drawers and substitute the taller doors instead.  This will require a bit more work on the part of the co-worker, and you will have to be diligent in reviewing your order, but it's well worth it if you get precisely what you want (at an IKEA price!), don't you think? 

Social and Environmental Responsibility

"Low price, but not at any price" is IKEA's motto when it comes to social and environmental responsibility, and they name 4 main focus areas:

• Products and Materials- IKEA works toward using the least amount of resources possible, and as many renewable and recyclable materials as possible in their products.  While price is a prime consideration (indeed, it is decided FIRST when designing a product), neither safety nor quality are compromised in the pursuit of a low price. IKEA has strict standards for the use of chemicals in their products, generally complying with the strictest standards in the world (typically Germany's).  See:IKEA's Products and Materials focus See also:IKEA's Environmental Standards - the Numbers
• Suppliers - IKEA's Code of Conduct, or IWAY Standards define the requirements and regulations built into the contracts with IKEA's hundreds of suppliers in dozens of countries worldwide.  IWAY Standards cover everything from Environmental factors such as air, noise and water pollution, chemicals, and waste handling to wages, benefits, working hours, housing conditions and regulations regarding wood procurement and forestry. See: IKEA's Suppliers focus
• Energy and Transport - IKEA is committed to reduce energy consumption by 25% (compared to 2005), greenhouse gases and for all IKEA buildings in the future to be heated and cooled using renewable energy sources. IKEA is also a strong proponent of efficient transportation - flatpacks are shipped through transport service providers who must commit to using cleaner fuels and making emissions targets.  Co-workers are encouraged to use public transport, bike or walk to work (they even post local bus routes and schedules in-store for customers), and all IKEA Home Delivery companies must use "green" vehicles by 2009. All IKEA Group vehicles will be "green" by 2010. See:IKEA's Energy and Transport focus
• Community Involvement - By partnering with organizations such as WWF, Save the Children and UNICEF, IKEA reaches out to communities on international, national and local levels. IKEA also participates in projects around the world to improve cotton cultivation practices, reforest and maintain rainforests, provide in-kind donations in emergency situations, prevent child labor and improve children's rights in India.  IKEA has also been providing a one year Scholarship for 22 students from the Eastern Block to study forestry in Alnarp, Sweden since 2001. See: IKEA's Community Involvement focus See also: Partnerships

Family Friendly

IKEA has a strong belief in the importance of family, and it shows in their HR policies as well as their store design and features. IKEA offers co-workers the opportunity to try new positions and actively encourages co-workers to try 10 jobs in 10 years.  In their corporate headquarters, dress is casual and employees enjoy the opportunity to bring their kids to work on occassion.  Co-workers enjoy their own private cafeteria where there's more than just meatballs, and there are even 'quiet rooms' for co-workers in the stores - a secluded place to quietly relax or even meditate while on a break or before or after work.  http://www.workforce.com/section/09/feature/23/79/57/index.html

For families visiting stores, you'll find reserved parking spaces near the elevators in the underground parking area (if there is one), for famliies with small children, and of course, there's Småland!  Drop your kids off while you shop, but be careful - it may be difficult to get them to leave! 

Tip: if you have one too young, or not yet potty trained, ask if they have coupons for cookies/milk in the restaurant - this always soothed our youngest.

Speaking of the restaurant, look for small tables and chairs for the kids, a microwave to heat baby food and/or drink, and nearby play areas so that you can eat in peace.  You'll also find family bathrooms in some IKEAs, equipped with kid sized sinks and toilets and sometimes a quiet, private room to change diapers and/or nurse a baby. Throughout the store, look for playstations for kids and let them run loose in the kids department - you have to try out the toys, afterall!

Being in Control

One of the fundamental reasons that IKEA is able to sell for less is that they expect and require you to do part of the work yourself.  This cuts out many of the typical overhead costs of a retail furniture store, such as paying pesky, irritating salespeople, subsidizing 'white-glove' delivery services, and serving cappuccino while your money is taken.  I'd rather do it myself, buy my own coffee and pocket the change, thank you!  This expectation that you will do-it-yourself is part of what makes IKEA such a terrific value. 

It also gives you control over the purchase.  You are in charge of when you make your purchase, and for the most part, when you take it home.  You can make room in your house for the new pieces, and put them together at midnight on Friday if you like, rather than between 7am and 4pm on Tuesday when it suits the delivery company.  If you're on a budget, you can purchase just the cabinets, and come back for the interior fittings and the doors and drawer fronts when the budget allows.  You could even swap out the doors on your PAX wardrobe or Akurum (or Faktum) kitchen cabinets for a whole different style!

You are in charge.  You make the decisions about when, what and how much.  And I don't know about you, but to me that is the greatest value of all.