IKEA

Ten years ago, I went to the city of Coventry to visit relations. I had a very nice week with my lovely aunt Ann and uncle Norman, and also my cousins Lee and Craig (or Bug as we used to call him) For anyone that is unsure, Coventry is in the west midlands of England. Anyway, the one thing that I wanted to see was IKEA as I was still a cabinetmaker at the time and I had heard so much about there furniture design.

Well I had such a good time with all my relations including Craig’s partner Dawn and there wonderful son Joe, that going to IKEA totally went out of my head. Ten years on and we how have an IKEA in Ireland (it has been here for over three years now) and up in till last Friday, I had never been there even though I still have a passing interest in furniture design. It is kind of strange as IKEA is only the other side of the city and I had never been there, even though I so wanted to go. Silly really because if it was down in Cork or Limerick, I am very sure I would have made time to go there. ANYWAY, my very good friend Jim (who was my manager in my last job) text me to meet him in Ikea for lunch so we could catch up with all the gossip after the shock of losing our jobs.

 I was finally going to see what all the fuss was about. I arrived an hour before Jim did and I have to say I spent that hour in an overwhelmed state of wonder. I have to say that the furniture is really good and brilliantly designed, and as for the pricing, let’s just say if I were to go back to furniture making, I would never be able to compete. The quality wasn’t brilliant, but it was made to last. The thing that impressed me the most was that they sold almost everything and also when they set out a show room, I felt like I was in some ones home, apart from the price stickers. It’s a good job I don’t have any money as I know I would have wanted to purchase loads of furniture and nick knacks and quirky storage solutions. A few years ago I made a steam iron holder for under the stairs and low and behold IKEA have the same thing on sale. It’s funny as I never new such a thing existed until I made one for myself and to say I was shocked was to say the least. My steam iron holder doesn’t look as good, but it has a place to hold the blades of my food mixer and also a tape dispenser for sealing plastic bags.

          While walking round IKEA, I kept wondering if they have any jobs and also if they would consider employing me. If I don’t get the college place, I will give them a try as I think I would love to work in a company that is into design and practicality.