For Immediate Release
Contact: Randi Brightman
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ROCK CLIMBING IN THE LIVING ROOM, MOUNTAIN BIKING IN THE MUD ROOM OR SURFING ON A BRAND NEW COUCH - IKEA INTRODUCES SAN DIEGO TO THE GREAT INDOORS

As IKEA Opens Its Fifth Store in Southern California, Four People Will Live in the Store for 48 Hours with No "Alliances" Necessary!

San Diego, CA - San Diego is known for the best weather in the U.S., where residents can sail and surf in the Pacific and go hiking in Torrey Pines almost any time of the year. However, never has San Diego been known as a place where people actually want to stay inside their homes. Well, put away your tennis rackets, golf clubs, and Rollerblades. There's a new Swedish sport in town.

This fall, San Diegans will learn to "Enjoy the Great Indoors" as IKEA, the leading home furnishings retailer, opens its first store in the San Diego area on Wednesday, September 20. Equivalent in size to almost four football fields, IKEA San Diego will join the Fenton Marketplace as the newest member of the business community. A one-stop shopping destination, IKEA will show the people of San Diego how to enjoy the great indoors.

Four San Diegans Get to Live in the New IKEA Store

In celebration of the IKEA San Diego Grand Opening and to demonstrate just how great the indoors can be, IKEA is conducting the "Great Indoors Adventure." Four "IKEA Indoorsmen," people who personify San Diegans' appreciation of the great outdoors, will be chosen via 93.3 FM, KHTS, to live in the store for 48 hours (September 18 through September 20). The IKEA Indoorsmen will be given a limited budget for IKEA furniture. They will then shop for, assemble, and decorate their habitat.

While the IKEA Indoorsmen are maintaining their IKEA habitat, people from the San Diego area will be able to call a designated telephone number to ask questions about their experience at the new store. The IKEA Indoorsmen will also be participating in a series of indoor events that will show San Diegans once and for all, that the indoors can be just as great as the outdoors. The IKEA Indoorsmen should be warned, however, that just because they are spending time in a retail store and not on a deserted island in the South China Sea, doesn't mean that they won't have difficulties to overcome. Many challenges await them during the Great Indoors Adventure.

For taking time out of their busy lives and helping IKEA prove that the indoors can be great, the four IKEA Indoorsmen will win the "Ultimate Great Indoors Room Setting." The room setting includes a couch, television stand, coffee table, side table and more, as well as a year supply of Swedish meatballs (total retail value $1,000). Just in time for the IKEA San Diego grand opening event, the IKEA Indoorsmen will be released from the store to participate in the grand opening ceremonial ribbon cutting.

Facts About IKEA San Diego

Located in Mission Valley at 2149 N. Fenton Parkway, the new store's 200,000 square feet resides on 13 acres of the 47 acre Fenton Marketplace. The store will showcase the tremendous selection, affordable prices, customer-friendly atmosphere and well-designed furnishings and accessories that have become IKEA's trademark. The San Diego store will include three full model homes, a 129-seat Restaurant offering Swedish specialties, a supervised children's Play Area and Ballroom, and more than 35 room displays including dining rooms, bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, children's rooms, home offices and more.

"People spend so much time in their homes that they want to be as comfortable, inviting and stylish as they can," said Rene Hausler, Store Manager, IKEA San Diego. "Whether the customer is furnishing their first apartment, adding a room onto their house or putting in a home office we have all the furnishings and accessories to help people enjoy the great indoors."

Did You Know?

* The first 100 customers to enter the new IKEA San Diego store on Grand Opening Day will receive a free POANG chair (valued at $150.00).
* IKEA San Diego is located at 2149 N. Fenton Parkway, San Diego, CA. the new IKEA San Diego store is the sixth IKEA store in California (others include Burbank, City of Industry, Tustin, Carson and East Bay).
* The San Diego store is one mile west of Qualcomm Stadium off Friars Road in Fenton Marketplace. It is located in the heart of Mission Valley.
* The new IKEA San Diego is 200,000 square feet, approximately the size of four football fields. The store resides on more than 13 acres of land.
* The new store will feature three full model homes, a 129-seat Restaurant, a supervised children's Play Area and Ballroom and 21 cash lanes for convenient checkout.
* IKEA has hired more than 250 co-workers from the San Diego area.
* IKEA forecasts $50 million in sales for the first full year.
* IKEA 2001 catalogs are being mailed to more than 500,000 households in the San Diego area with a $20 coupon off for purchases of $100 or more which is valid until October 15, 2000.
* Customers can request to receive an IKEA 2001 catalog via www.ikea-usa.com, and there is a coupon for $20 off a $100 purchase, valid until September 24, 2000, that can be downloaded and printed.
* IKEA San Diego store hours on Grand Opening Day (September 20) will be from 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM.
* IKEA San Diego general store hours are Monday through Saturday 10:00 AM through 9:00 PM and Sunday 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Weekdays after 3:00 PM children under 10 years old will be served a free cookie and glass of milk.
* From Wednesday, September 20th (Grand Opening Day) through Sunday, September 24th, IKEA will provide special entertainment for customers to enjoy including: face painters, jugglers, balloon twisters, and clowns.

Since its founding in 1943, IKEA has offered a wide range of home furnishings and accessories of good design and function, at prices so low that the majority of the people can afford them. IKEA is recognized as a socially responsible company, and continuously supports initiatives that benefit causes such as children and the environment. Currently, IKEA has 165 stores in 31 countries, including 15 stores in the United States and nine stores in Canada. To visit the IKEA web site, please go to http://www.ikea-usa.com.