As an IKEA Friends and fan (IKEA’s goals of sustainability and environmental design), I was invited to preview session before the $125 millions mega store was opened to public.

I was not able to make it due to Talia’s birth and I didn’t want to spoil my IKEA experience with the crowds that flock to the store after the grand opening.

Last week, I was told that the mad rush was over and probably about time for me to visit the mega store before our confinement lady leave us.

On sunday afternoon, I sent Jaime home after church and drove towards Tampines. Once I saw the blue box building from a distance, I took out my mental score card and started scoring.

  • One point for free parking
  • One point for well placed signs
  • Five points for large lobby area before the travellators
  • Three points for helpful staff
  • Minus two points for M.I.A. staff at lighting section

Frankly speaking, the showrooms, products & merchandise were a little disappointing. Nothing new or interesting, not many wow factors other than steep discount for certain items….which are out of stock (e.g. ALLAK Swivel chair was $258, now $128).

What caught my attention was this little trolley.

It’s such a sample little design, but it solve the nightmare of buying food for an entire family. I had very bad experience carrying two trays full of meat balls, salmon, chicken wings & drinks in the Alexandra store. Just look at how many plates of yummy & glorious food the little trolley can handle…and how relax the man behind the counter was.

I’m impressed with the kind of details and customer centric enviornment IKEA’s managment are concern about.

  • Fifteen points for the trolley

On my way out of the store, I noticed another good design.

The IKEA difference

Just look at the open space at the bottom of the travellator. There are ample space for people & trolleys to move. IKEA even employ a guy to clear the trolleys so as to prevent any blockade caused by trolleys in case of emergency.

Read Potential Death Traps in Ang Mo Kio Hub (Death Trap SIX) and see the different.

The way the loading bay was design maximises space, increases efficiency and ensure safety of drivers and passengers.

In comparison, the loading bay in NTUC Xtra (Ang Mo Kio Hub) is like a 3rd world design in a 1st world country.

IKEA did it again, the company created a design & service gap that will take years for their ‘competitors wannabe’ to catch up.

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