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I've noticed students working in the IKEA Cafes here in Australia! They offer similar benefits to a good sized Starbucks store. Free charging points, WiFi, be

I've noticed students working in the IKEA Cafes here in Australia! They offer similar benefits to a good sized Starbucks store. Free charging points, WiFi, bench seating in secluded corners and so on. Though I'd wager that WiFi is less important, as people have mobile plans with plenty of data. Given the accommodation crises in Australia, I'd suspect many students dont have a decent place to study in their homes. Many of them are sharing bedrooms etc..

m463 2y ago
Lol. I wonder if ikea cafes are similar to the restaurants in ikea. I was under the impression they were subsidized. Additionally, they are a "trap" - easy to enter, but exiting requires you to walk the gauntlet of products for sale downstairs.
- imp0cat 2y ago
  Every IKEA might be different, so YMMV, but there usually are (sometimes well-hidden) shortcuts.
  - graeber_28927 2y ago
    IKEA regularly shuffles around it's layout. They won't let you learn shortcuts and exploit experience. I learnt this the hard way several times in my local IKEA, but I also read an article about how this is absolutely strategic in their thinking. Unfortunately I couldn't find it to back me up.
    - throwaway173738 2y ago
      This is true. A lot of shortcut doors are very non descript too and they look like doors into some back room or warehouse you’re not supposed to enter. They do mark them on the store maps though. “You don’t have to be rich, just smart” indeed.
daveoc64 2y ago
In the UK, the IKEA Restaurant offers free hot drinks for IKEA Family members on weekdays - plus all of the other benefits you've mentioned. I would say that the Wi-Fi is important, as the design of most UK IKEA buildings blocks mobile network signals!
- switch007 2y ago
  IKEA restaurants are my secret (guess the cat is out the bag now haha). I never see anyone else working there. Free unlimited parking too. And Fridays has half price food Only downside is screaming kids And yes there's bad mobile signal but Vodafone (famous for having better indoor signal I believe) works ok
  - swaggyBoatswain 2y ago
    I tried doing IKEA restaurants as co-working but it just doesn't have the right energy or vibe though

m463 2y ago

Lol. I wonder if ikea cafes are similar to the restaurants in ikea. I was under the impression they were subsidized. Additionally, they are a "trap" - easy to enter, but exiting requires you to walk the gauntlet of products for sale downstairs.

imp0cat 2y ago
Every IKEA might be different, so YMMV, but there usually are (sometimes well-hidden) shortcuts.
- graeber_28927 2y ago
  IKEA regularly shuffles around it's layout. They won't let you learn shortcuts and exploit experience. I learnt this the hard way several times in my local IKEA, but I also read an article about how this is absolutely strategic in their thinking. Unfortunately I couldn't find it to back me up.
  - throwaway173738 2y ago
    This is true. A lot of shortcut doors are very non descript too and they look like doors into some back room or warehouse you’re not supposed to enter. They do mark them on the store maps though. “You don’t have to be rich, just smart” indeed.

daveoc64 2y ago

In the UK, the IKEA Restaurant offers free hot drinks for IKEA Family members on weekdays - plus all of the other benefits you've mentioned. I would say that the Wi-Fi is important, as the design of most UK IKEA buildings blocks mobile network signals!

switch007 2y ago
IKEA restaurants are my secret (guess the cat is out the bag now haha). I never see anyone else working there. Free unlimited parking too. And Fridays has half price food Only downside is screaming kids And yes there's bad mobile signal but Vodafone (famous for having better indoor signal I believe) works ok
- swaggyBoatswain 2y ago
  I tried doing IKEA restaurants as co-working but it just doesn't have the right energy or vibe though