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IKEA versus Arhus versus Walmart
Name
Institution
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IKEA, Arhus, and Walmart are major retailers offering furniture in the market. However,
despite operating in the same market, these retailers have different characteristics (Jørgensen,
n.d.). This short paper briefly identifies various store attributes of IKEA versus Arhus versus
Walmart. The following table illustrates the store attributes of IKEA, Arhus, and Walmart:
IKEA
Arhus
Walmart
High-quality furniture
High-quality furniture
Low-quality furniture (Jasen,
(Jørgensen, n.d.)
2018)
Cheaper prices
Premium prices
Low prices (Jasen, 2018)
Attractive store layout
Attractive and serene store
Moderately attractive store
(Jørgensen, n.d.)
layout (Moon, 2004)
layout (Jasen, 2018)
The store layout appeal to the
The furniture in the store
The store layout hardly
subconscious mind, leading
layout is set in a naturalistic
appeals to the subconscious
to retail therapy (Jørgensen,
environment, appealing to the
mind (Jasen, 2018)
n.d.)
subconscious mind (Moon,
2004)
High sense of comfort to the
Moderate sense of comfort to
Always crowded place
clients (Jørgensen, n.d.)
the customers
(Jasen, 2018)
Modern furnishings
Modern furnishings (Moon,
Less modern furnishings
(Jørgensen, n.d.)
2004)
(Jasen, 2018)
In-store shopping experiences In-store experiences
Limited in-store experiences
(Jørgensen, n.d.)
(Jasen, 2018)
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Underdeveloped e-commerce
Relatively developed e-
A well-developed e-
platform to meet customers
commerce platform to reach
commerce platform to meet
virtually (Moon, 2004)
the customers (Moon, 2004)
customers virtually (Jasen,
2018)
A vast amount of white in the
Minimal amounts of white
Limited white color in its
IKEA’s stores as a
colors in its stores
stores (Jasen, 2018)
Humanized creative design
Less humanized creative
Non-humanized creative
(Jørgensen, n.d.)
design
design (Jasen, 2018)
Develop flat packaged
Fixed packaged products
Foxed packaged products
Customers assemble products
Customers cannot assemble
Customers cannot assemble
themselves (Moon, 2004)
the products individually
products individually (Jasen,
neuromarketing tool to appeal
subconscious mind
(Jørgensen, n.d.)
products (Jørgensen, n.d.)
2018)
Develops highly stylish
Offers classy products to
Offers moderately appealing
products (Jørgensen, n.d.)
customers (Moon, 2004)
products (Jasen, 2018)
Conclusion
IKEA is a company that has differences and similarities with Walmart and Arhus. A
major similarity between IKEA and Arhus is that they both offer high-quality products.
However, a major difference is that IKEA offers affordable and customizable furniture. In
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addition, the low prices are a major similarity between IKEA and Walmart. Nonetheless, IKEA
is renowned for superior quality than Walmart.
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References
Jasen, C. (2018). Walmart unveils online furniture brand MoDRN.
https://www.retaildive.com/news/walmart-unveils-online-furniture-brand-modrn/548135/
Jørgensen, M. T. Customer Experience Innovation as a Competitive Advantage: A case study of
IKEA. https://rucforsk.ruc.dk/ws/portalfiles/portal/66568152/Final_thesis.pdf
Moon, Y. (2004). IKEA invades America (p. 13). Boston: Harvard Business School.