IKEA stores in China have rolled out their welcome mats for many Chinese residents who crash the showrooms to escape the summer heat, have a quick nap or just hangout.
The Swedish furniture maker’s outlets have become the mecca for showroom nappers who want to enjoy some air conditioning and comfy furniture during the hot summer months.
Head of IKEA China Anna Pawlak-Kuliga noted that everyone is welcome to visit the store, promising not to turn away any potential customers, reports Shanghaiist.
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“We are very happy to welcome many customers in our stores, who are using our stores to sleep as well,” she was quoted as saying.
It was somewhat of a different story back in 2015 when images of showroom nappers dozing off in sofas and beds were widely shared on social media. It was reported then that an IKEA outlet in Beijing was trying to ban people from sleeping on its furniture displays. The company later denied ever enforcing such a measure.
These days, the stores even host informal slumber parties for locals who come to the store without any plans of making a purchase.
The adopted strategy to embrace the nappers has apparently proven to be effective as China has become IKEA’s fastest-growing market, according to Pawlak-Kuliga.
She further noted that the company has major plans of expansion in the country, opening another four outlets by the end of this year and investing $1.4 billion into its Chinese operations in 2020.
Featured Image via huanqiu
