Cabela's, Bass Pro Shops and IKEA (Indianapolis, Columbus: 2015, appliances, house)

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by Bluefoxwarrior

Domergurl, why do you say Ikea will never happen? Just curious because there was recently a thread on the city vs. city forum about which city would get an Ikea first, which I thought was a silly topic in and of itself, but nonetheless I believe Indy was in the lead the last I saw. There seemed to be a general consensus that Indy has the demographics to support an Ikea.

No one takes the city v city forum seriously.

[domergurl]

Originally Posted by Bluefoxwarrior

Domergurl, why do you say Ikea will never happen? Just curious because there was recently a thread on the city vs. city forum about which city would get an Ikea first, which I thought was a silly topic in and of itself, but nonetheless I believe Indy was in the lead the last I saw. There seemed to be a general consensus that Indy has the demographics to support an Ikea.

Indy doesn't have the demographics ... in pockets, yes. It's the same reason why Costco won't open south of Indianapolis.

[msamhunter]

Originally Posted by domergurl

Indy doesn't have the demographics ... in pockets, yes. It's the same reason why Costco won't open south of Indianapolis.

Based off of ikea it does.

[missik999]

Originally Posted by domergurl

Indy doesn't have the demographics ... in pockets, yes. It's the same reason why Costco won't open south of Indianapolis.

I think Hamilton County would fit IKEA's demographics.

[msamhunter]

Originally Posted by missik999

I think Hamilton County would fit IKEA's demographics.

They don't base it off of one county. It's entire market (more preferably media market). 2 million within a 40-60 mile radius (Marion + donut counties already at 1.9 million without adding anything else). Indy media market goes as far north as Lafayette and as far south a bloomington. Almost to the Ohio border to the east and just shy of Terre Haute to the west. Monument Circle is almost the geographic middle of the state so it's about as centralized an area can get.

[indy_317]

Originally Posted by missik999

I like IKEA too, and many other people as well because the stores are always busy.

Are they busy because they sell good stuff, or busy because they seem to the "the place to be" at the present time? I see Facebook friends make the trip to the Cincinnati store based on the photos they post. However, Cincinnati also has the Jungle Jim's Market not too far away from IKEA, and if one is on the way via I-74, they also have a Bass Pro Shop. Maybe once we get our new home we will have a reason to go and check out IKEA (with stops at Bass Pro Shop and Jungle Jim's).

[domergurl]

Originally Posted by msamhunter

They don't base it off of one county. It's entire market (more preferably media market). 2 million within a 40-60 mile radius (Marion + donut counties already at 1.9 million without adding anything else). Indy media market goes as far north as Lafayette and as far south a bloomington. Almost to the Ohio border to the east and just shy of Terre Haute to the west. Monument Circle is almost the geographic middle of the state so it's about as centralized an area can get.

it's not only population .. it's how much $$$ people have in the demographic area. Corporations won't publish that number. To be honest, I'm surprised St. Louis doesn't have one.

[msamhunter]

Originally Posted by domergurl

it's not only population .. it's how much $$$ people have in the demographic area. Corporations won't publish that number. To be honest, I'm surprised St. Louis doesn't have one.

From someone who does extensive lead generation across 25 states, not that much of a difference between said areas especially at their price point which is pretty low to begin with.

[domergurl]

then I suggest you take your extensive lead generation to Ikea because they obviously don't realize what they are missing.

[bertrandandjules]

Ikea seems to be very, very conservative in their North American expansion plan. Only a few big metro areas have two, and plenty metro areas bigger than Indy have none. For whatever it's worth (and Ikea furniture ain't worth much in terms of staying power), their stores are big-time destinations, and people will quite willingly drive 2+ hours to make a day in one, hang out with the kids, have Swedish meatballs for dinner. Indy has Chicago just 3 hours to the north and (more importantly) Cincinnati just 2 hours to the south. When they announced that they were opening a store in Cincy a few years ago, it didn't surprise me one bit--lots and LOTS of other cities a close drive from the Queen City (Indy, Louisville, Dayton, Lexington, Columbus).

St. Louis or Kansas City will definitely get an Ikea before Indy, and they deserve to--bigger cities and they have a longer drive to one that's close by.

I don't know much about BPS or Cabela's--they don't seem to have as conservative of an expansion plan. But Greenwood probably won't get either, considering that they now have a Gander Mountain at almost the exact same location that the Cabela's was supposed to be. Granted, Gander Mountain isn't anywhere near the destination as BPS or Cabela's but it has much of the same product line.