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IKEA Tempe Opens its Doors
October 30 , 2004 by Kathleen GordenFive Neighbors “Camp” Outside the Store for Three Nights to Benefit Free Arts of Arizona
TEMPE, AZ, October 27, 2004 – IKEA, the leading home furnishings retailer, opens the doors of its first Desert Southwest store on November 10. In celebration of grand opening, the new store in Tempe, Arizona has kicked off the Welcome Neighbors campaign, a trademark IKEA initiative which illustrates IKEA Tempe has something for everyone from young singles to families with kids to empty nesters.IKEA Tempe has partnered with KMXP-FM (Mix 96.9) on the Welcome Neighbors campaign to help find the “Fabulous Five Neighbors” who were randomly chosen from more than 1,200 submissions who wrote in describing why they deserved consideration as an IKEA neighbor. The five winners will sleep out at IKEA Tempe from November 7 through grand opening day on November 10. In return, each of these “Fabulous Five Neighbors” will receive a $2,000 IKEA Gift Card along with a free IKEA bed, mattress, linens, bedside table, lamp, area rug and slippers. IKEA Tempe is donating $2,000 (a total of $10,000) to benefit Free Arts of Arizona, whose mission is to spark the creative spirit in abused, homeless and at-risk children and their families to inspire and transform their lives through the power of artistic expression for each of the “Fabulous Five Neighbors’” participation in the campaign.
“We truly value our neighbors near and far, and we want everyone to know that IKEA is there at every stage of their lives,” said Lars Meyer, IKEA Tempe store manager. “We are so excited to be a part of the Southwest ‘neighborhood’ and highlighting what it means to be a ‘fabulous neighbor’ seemed fitting for our IKEA Tempe grand opening celebration.”
As a symbol of “new beginnings,” the Honorable Mayor Hugh Hallman and Pernille Spiers-Lopez, president, IKEA North America will join IKEA Tempe store manager Lars Meyer in the traditional Swedish log-sawing ceremony, which takes place just before IKEA Tempe officially opens its doors to all neighbors at 9:00 a.m. A representative of the Free Arts of Arizona, the Consulate of Sweden for Arizona, as well as the Consulate General of Mexico in Phoenix, Arizona will also join the ceremony and grand opening festivities.
Additional IKEA Tempe grand opening festivities include:
Become a “Cover Girl” or “Guy” – The very first person in line (18 and over) for the IKEA Tempe grand opening on November 10 (not including the five participating in the Welcome Neighbors campaign), will win all of the IKEA furnishings and accessories featured on the 2005 IKEA Catalog cover with an estimated value of $1,500.
Take a Seat – The first 100 adults (18 and over) in line at IKEA Tempe will receive a free POÄNG armchair (valued at $99) On November 10.
Just for Kids – The first 100 children (under 12) in line at IKEA Tempe on November 10 will receive a free IKEA BRUM bear soft-toy (IKEA donates $2 from the sale of its BRUM bear soft-toy to UNICEF, which benefits children in need around the world).
Home of Your Dreams – Enter to win $10,000 in IKEA Gift Cards by filling out an entry form at IKEA Tempe from November 10 until November 14.
IKEA Tempe Grand Opening Bonus Treat – From November 10 through November 14, visitors can randomly win 100% off of their purchases at IKEA Tempe throughout the day.
Breakfast Special Under a $1 – The IKEA Tempe Restaurant, which provides a full, hot breakfast and coffee from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. daily, will offer grand opening visitors its full breakfast for only 99 cents from November 10 until November 14. (The full, hot breakfast and coffee will return to $1.49 after grand opening week.)
Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered a wide range of home furnishings and accessories of good design and function, at low prices so the majority of people can afford them. For two consecutive years, IKEA has been named in Working Mother magazine’s annual list of the “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers” and was honored with the magazine’s “Family Champion” award for familyfriendly programs in 2003. IKEA has more than 200 stores in 32 countries with 22 U.S. stores (including IKEA Tempe which opens on November 10). IKEA is recognized as a socially responsible company, and supports initiatives that benefit causes such as children and the environment. For directions to IKEA Tempe or additional information, please go to http://www.IKEA-usa.com.
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Editor's Note: Thanks to IKEA for inviting the EVLiving.com executive and editorial staff to attend their Pre-Grand Opening and Press Tour on October 27th. It is a privledge to help promote the Grand Opening of IKEA's first Arizona store. We welcome IKEA to our beautiful East Valley community and wish them success.
