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Sorry, Wal-Mart.
If Miami University students use their brains, they'll steer clear of College Corner Pike and instead head to IKEA West Chester for all of their housing needs for the 2009-10 school year.
Many students already know what the Swedish home furnishings company is all about - offering stylish furniture at affordable prices.
In July, IKEA stepped its game up by revealing the 2010 catalog, offering hundreds of new items and slashing prices of dozens bestselling items in half.
According to the August newsletter, the 59th catalog in the company's history printed nearly 200 million copies in 28 languages and includes more than 2,000 IKEA products.
While giving a guided tour of their newly redone floor of model rooms July 28, IKEA West Chester store manager Lonnie Rodgers II explained the revamp was necessary to display new products and also based on customer feedback.
For example, the store has added more traditional furniture after West Chester residents requested it. Catering to customers isn't anything new to IKEA, which began producing larger bed frames for sale in the fast food nation after realizing that standard European bed sizes weren't what most shoppers wanted.
"Another big change is our mattress selection," Rodgers said, all of which all come with a 25-year warranty.
In their past reviews, IKEA West Chester has gotten great scores for their in-stock condition and customer service. According to Rodgers, West Chester added price scanners throughout the store this year, an optional upgrade.
Walking across the store's new floor, Rodgers pointed out their surplus of new bathroom accessories and duvet covers.
In what Rodgers assumed to be the biggest square foot selection of pillows anywhere, IKEA offers pillows starting at 99 cents. Beat that, Wal-Mart.
Need something to make your flat screen look even sweeter? Check out IKEA's new TV storage combinations for wall mounts, shelves, drawers for DVD storage, etc.
In an effort to avoid the sophomore slump many IKEA stores experience after the initial wonder of a new store opening wears off and in a time where everyone is watching their wallet, IKEA West Chester's new changes are well-timed.
"These reduced prices are no longer just for the weekend," Rodgers said. "They're going to be sustained throughout the year (ending June 30, 2010)."
And don't think prices are being cut on items that have been sitting on the shelves. These lower prices have been applied to some of IKEA's bestsellers, like their "Kassett" (box for paper with lid), now $5.99, which sold for $10.99 last year. Their "Lenda" (pair of curtains with tie-backs) is now $14.99 (last year $29.99).
"Our competition will not beat our price," Rodgers said. "Bring in an ad for a similar piece of furniture from another store and IKEA will match the price if it isn't already lower."
Kitalena Mason, who graduated from Miami in 2002 and now works at IKEA West Chester as a public relations and local marketing specialist, said she wishes the store existed when she was a college student. Her favorite items are IKEA's picture frames, closet boxes for storing shoes and duvet covers.
"One thing I would've appreciated as a student would be the organization options IKEA offers, because in the dorms you don't have a lot of space," Mason said. "I would have loved that, more choices."
And just why should Miami students make the trip all the way out to West Chester versus just going to the Oxford Wal-Mart?
"Well, for one, it gets you out of Oxford," Mason said. "It can be a fun day out to take a shopping trip with your sorority or fraternity or just a group of friends. And when you get here, there's so much inspiration. Also, college kids have limited funds. There are more options here, and it's affordable. We're known for a wide range of styles. A place like Wal-Mart has a limited range of furniture, whereas at IKEA, that's our specialty."
