Konted's Make My Day 2: IKEA in Richmond

IKEA in Richmond

It was Armin's day off from work at Boeing Aerostructures in Port Melbourne. Taking the Burnley tunnel, he was on his way to Richmond with a small group of friends. Richmond is a busy part of Melbourne city proper where commercial establishments are located. While his big beautiful house in Watervale is already fully furnished, he visits regularly a giant store selling quality furniture and fine home decors. Armin is a regular patron of Ikea.

With the mother company based in Netherlands, Ikea is the largest furniture retailer in the whole world. It has more than 300 outlets scattered in different parts of the world. It boasts of the capacity to sell ready-to-assemble furniture worth more than $23 billion in a single year. IKEA is short for "Ingvar Kamprad who grew up in Elmtaryd and whose roots are in Agunnaryd in Sweden." Owner Ingvar Kamprad is one of the world's richest.

Ikea in Richmond has three floors with two floors serving as display areas and storerooms of products for sale. The items are systematically arranged. There are counters where you place your orders and there are designated pick up areas. While some items are piled up too high, the store arrangement generally makes shopping easier. Ikea has its own multi-level parking area.

While his friends were all busy looking at and sorting some cooking utensils and some newly arrived foldable chairs, Armin immediately proceeded to the third floor. It is where Ikea's restaurant is housed. Without even browsing over the menu, he ordered Ikea's equally popular Swedish meatballs. To go with the meatballs were fried potatoes and a glass of Coke. In 10 minutes, he was done. It was all over. With a toothpick in one corner of his mouth, he let his right foot rest on a vacant chair. Obviously, he looked contented. He looked satisfied with what he had. For Armin is a self-confessed habitue of Ikea's restaurant. He always tells his friends: " Ikea is not about chairs. It is not about beds or tables. It is all about MEATBALLS !! " So there !

- Konted