I predicted this one last week while shooting the shit at a party. After it came out of my mouth, I felt kind of stupid because it seemed too absurd to even mention.
This is what I was thinking – wouldn’t it be kinda funny and mutually beneficial if Ikea started “renting” out the designer rooms in their store to people who just needed a place to sleep at night before they drudge off to there 12 hour work day and 4 hour commute.
Well, whatyda know?
Ikea opens free hostel for shoppers who don’t want to leave
From boingboing:
“The Oslo Ikea is opening up a no-charge hostel for shoppers who want to keep on shopping the next morning. It includes a bridal suite, and a luxury suite with breakfast in bed. Many Norwegians visit Ikea on holidays, treating it like a flat-pack theme-park. Guests also get to keep their sheets, and complimentary slippers, bathrobes, dinner and breakfast.”
“There will be the regular dormitory with lots of beds stacked up together. We will also have a bridal suite, with a round bed and a hanging chandelier, and the luxury suite, where customers can enjoy breakfast in bed,” he said. Family rooms will also be available for parents and children to join into the Ikea fun. None of the guests will be charged for their stay.
Mr Ullebust said that, as far as he knew, this was Ikea’s first foray into the hotel business. Every night, the 30 lucky few will be able to stack up on meatballs, Norwegian salmon and cranberry mousse, as Ikea is offering free dinner and breakfast at the usual canteen.”
This is just the start. Perhaps the “jail cell” of the future will actually be a cheap living situation in an Ikea complex. Just imagine rented out cubicles / office space or simple living quarters in exchange for having customers walk through your room and open your cabinets.
I “predicted” something similar with Starbucks/Tully’s last year because I think those stores have ALL the fixins’ of being a lobby in a “fancy” apartment building. You rent a room above Starbucks and have all the free coffee you can handle because of it. Welcome to the future.
This world-wide jail cell thing is also what I was getting at, I think, when I wrote something about how in the future the entire world will be one giant airport
What about housing Ikea workers at this prison/hostel?
Is there a Starbucks in a Starbucks yet?
I remember thinking that I could imagine a world in which there is tribal warfare between members of different service industries. Like battles between KFC employees and the Kinko’s snobs.
When did you write about the giant airport?
“I remember thinking that I could imagine a world in which there is tribal warfare between members of different service industries. Like battles between KFC employees and the Kinko’s snobs. ”
This is reminiscent of the climactic scene in a novel called Jennifer Government, when there is war between affinity groups that offer rewards programs. It’s great.