GA-GA FOR IKEA

Photo provided by IKEA // The new Fishers IKEA just off Interstate 69 opens in one week, Oct. 11. Are you excited? Or do you care? Share your thoughts.

I played hooky this morning, but in all the pageantry, I’m sure I wasn’t missed.

I received an invite to a press preview of the new Fishers IKEA store. And I didn’t go.

I’m sure many of my friends are aghast at the news. For years now, several of my home-girls have said we simply must make the trek to the Cincinnati store, the nearest to central Indiana--until now. But as quickly as the group got excited about the idea, we realized taking a van full would be pointless. We would simply want to buy too many things and there would be no space for any of it. It's akin to why be a kid in a candy store if you can't taste anything?

One of my friends has redecorated her house beautifully in recent years and whenever a particular cool furnishing or sparkling chandelier is pointed out in her home, it’s the same response: “IKEA!”

So why in the world would I pass on a press pass to this wonderland for home furnishings and clever storage ideas? Plus a complimentary Swedish breakfast buffet? Timing. It’s everything.

I’ve got evening obligations away from home three nights this week, including coordinating tonight’s her magazine for women holiday recipe contest at The Courier-Times. Tomorrow I’ll be late covering the Extension Homemakers County Club Night. I spent half of Sunday making noodles as a service project and Monday was work and Bible Study Fellowship that night. All good stuff, fun stuff, even.  But an ultra busy week.

Driving to Indy for the morning, then to New Castle in the afternoon to prepare and oversee the contest put me over the top in scheduling. So I’ve spent the morning catching up on bill-paying and other household chores on hold since our vacation. There will be some errands this afternoon. It was a two-eggs-over-easy breakfast for me today instead of the interesting-sounding Swedish fare. Sigh.

Sometimes we need a break in the action, even if it comes at the cost of an interesting free meal, a sneak peek at the 45th IKEA store in the nation and the “I can’t believe you didn’t go” comments from my friends.

Even Brian says he’s got to see this place he's heard so much about! Meanwhile, IKEA marketing has put together some incentives for those who can’t wait to be first on the scene at the new store when it opens on Oct. 11. How long would you wait in line?

The opening-day, Wednesday, Oct. 11 ceremony includes State Rep. Todd Huston raising  the U.S. flag, Hon. Swedish Vice Consul Anna Engstrom Patel raising the Swedish flag and State Sen. Victoria Spartz hoisting the Indiana state flag.

Store employees will sing the respective American and Swedish national anthems and America the Beautiful prior to opening remarks.  Entertainment for customers waiting in line begins at 6 a.m.

Incentives, according to a Fishers store release:
 
-- The first 45 adults (18 & older) in IKEA Fishers on Oct. 11 will receive a free EKTORP three-seat sofa, honoring our 45th U.S. store.

-- The next 100 adults (18 & older) will receive a free POÄNG armchair.

-- The first 100 children (17 & younger) will receive a free FAMNIG heart-shaped soft toy.

-- The first 2,500 adults (18 & older) will receive a random prize envelope with IKEA Gift Cards ranging from $10 to $250, or a “Buy One, Get One Free” cinnamon bun, hotdog or soft-serve frozen yogurt voucher.

-- The first 100 adults (18 & older) bringing proof that their birthday is the same as the store’s will receive a gift card in the amount of $45, a tie-in corresponding to IKEA Fishers as the 45th U.S. IKEA store.

-- From Oct. 11-15, visitors may enter for a chance to win one of 20 $250 IKEA Gift Cards through the IKEA FAMILY loyalty program.  IKEA is matching twice the amount of the prizes (a total of $10,000) with a donation of home furnishings to Dayspring Center, a local organization that meets the basic needs of homeless families seeking assistance and helps them realize their potential.

So what do you think? Do you plan to get there early to win a prize, or will you wait until later? What are your impressions of IKEA? Have you been to other IKEAs? Or, is IKEA not even on your radar?

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