MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Tennessee’s first IKEA store opens one week away from Wednesday in Memphis.
The store is bringing money, jobs, and a news type of shopping experience to the area.
“We’ve come together to build this amazing store,” Trisha Bevering, the store manager, said.
Workers at the Memphis IKEA tied up loose ends and crossed final tasks off of their check lists.
The big store is known for cheaper, trendy home furnishings.
The company fired more than 200 employees, and spots are still up for grabs.
“We still have a couple of jobs posted of course and then we’re always looking for talent,” Bevering explained. “We’re always looking for people who love retail.”
“It was just a great opportunity,” Crystal Martin, a Memphis-area employee, said.
The Bartlett mom of two now has a new way to provide for her family.
“It brings hope that other people will see this as well — other companies and it’s just going to put Memphis on the map,” Martin told WREG.
One of the cool things about the store are the model home interiors.
The displays are set up just like a home where you have the living room, the bedroom, and the kitchen.
The store’s layout has signs and arrows to help customers navigate.
Each showroom is is designed to customize your experience.
For example, shoppers can even mix and match handles and cabinets by simply picking one up off of the wall, walking it over to another wall of styles, and placing it on each spot to see which one you like the most.
“We have something that we say – you know – create a better everyday life for the many people. That’s in their homes and that’s also in our community,” Bevering said.
People can begin lining up at the store on Monday, but remember it does not open until Wednesday.