Actually, I have been a manager with IKEA International and the company is one of the most incredible organizations
IN THE WORLD to work for. They are classy, treat their employees better than I have ever seen a retail organization treat their staff, and their return to the community is HUGE!! So, in answer to your question, yes I have seen an IKEA parking lot and everything down to the last sign, flow of traffic, flow of people and even the flags out front of the building are under continued scrutiny and monitored by IKEA for 100% compliance to the companies strict standards. I also know that the disciplines instilled in my staff were of the standards that most retail managers would give their right arm for; a far cry from those that some of these young people who work in retail believe they are today. The charity and fund raising events also went above and beyond any retailer I've ever heard of or seen. IKEA is more than a big blue and yellow box, they are an incredible retailer, and yes, I'd rather an IKEA than a Value Village in Stonebridge. Perhaps an area on 8th Street would be more accessible to EVERYONE who wants to get to Value Village - bus service would sure be better. Maybe we could ask Mr. Kemp to sell her DQ on 8th and then we'll have a huge chunk of land to put a Value Village.
I have worked at a senior level of management in retail industry over the past 20+ years, and I have to say that IKEA was amazing to work for and I'd completely embrace their arrival over that of a Value Village.
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Originally Posted by Morogolus
This is just pathetic. The upper middle class white people don't want the thrift store crowd coming into their precious neighborhood whom they see as poor bums that will steal from their houses while their kids are sleeping.
Many of my friends and family shop at Value Village who aren't poor whatsoever. It's a great place to go if you have little ones who outgrow their clothing every six months It's not a soup kitchen or a homeless shelter. The drop box excuse is a sorry one, I never see more than a few boxes outside the Value Village on circle. The cite traffic as a concern yet an Ikea would be ok (the upper middle class wet dream). I wonder if that person has actually seen the traffic around an Ikea?
Give your head a shake, there's no way a Value Village will lower your property values. By that logic, a Wal-Mart would lower your property values too. These sound like the same people who complain whenever low income housing is built in their neighborhoods.
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