IKEA: CUSTOMERS PREFER THE MAZE

A few years ago, IKEA wanted to attract new customers by simplifying its floor plan. In 2018, the Swedish furniture giant launched a series of smaller urban outlets in Shanghai and Austria without the maze-like layout. IKEA thought customers would prefer a quick in-and-out shopping experience. But… it failed. The new spaces didn’t generate the sales bump that IKEA expected. Interviews with customers and feedback surveys made it clear that shoppers preferred the original labyrinth floor plan.
* Why not? It’s a great opportunity to lose the kids for an hour.
* How about making it a corn maze?
* I don’t really care. When I’m looking for something at IKEA, I just use Google Maps.
* Dang – now I’m hungry for those meatballs.