So the magic day is here! For those of us who have been waiting for years for IKEA to open a store in Winnipeg, November 28, 2012 is historic.
As an advertiser, I am grateful that IKEA is supporting Winnipeg's industry by purchasing lots of media and being publicly visible. As a citizen, I appreciate IKEA "speaking" to Winnipeggers - calling us by name and welcoming us to their new 395,671 square feet of home furnishings. As a consumer, I love that IKEA is inclusive and accessible and that they distributed their catalogue right to my door. Normally novel or valuable things don't get delivered to the part of town where I live.
Will I be one of the first to use their 1,619 parking spaces, 800 shopping carts, 40 check-out lanes or to sit in their 651 seat restaurant? No. I think I'll let the first rush move through from opening until the end of the year. The store will never be "quiet" and without significant volumes of consumers. IKEA stores around the world attest to that. I will go, however, when I get a day off work and can wander around at my comfortable speed, taking as long as I like to look and touch and buy.
I do appreciate you being here, IKEA. Good things do come to those who wait.
