How to get your product on the market, whatever the human or environmental cost, in 4 easy stepsBy continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Click here to find out more » Add an image URL Upload a video | Alternatively, you can email us at: tips@thejournal.ie Please log in to comment Please log in with facebook to become a fan Create an email alert based on the current article One email every morning As soon as new articles come onlineLike most enthusiasts of design, we’re big fans of IKEA, both for their products and as a business. However, it’s near impossible to name a single direct peer to the Swedish giant. We’re here to offer some alternative stores like IKEA for great designs at accessible prices. Obviously, we’re going to list 10 online stores other than ourselves (although, if you’re here, we hope you’ve checked us out). We’re also opting for stores where you can find products priced below the ranges of West Elm, Room & Board, and the likes.
This massive online retailer is part of Wayfair. They consolidate a large assortment of modern products across all price ranges. Amazing customer service to boot. Although it may take some time to browse through their massive catalog, there are good deals here. Overstock sells more than furniture and decor, but they have a surprisingly strong selection of modern styles at great discounts if you dig deep enough. Most products on Fab are high-end designer items, but look for the newer products that are made by Fab. They’re always available (despite what the countdown timer may seem to suggest) and are very inexpensive for their look and quality.Since you’re buying direct from small business owners/makers, the prices can be fantastic and the aesthetics truly unique. However, sifting through all the products to find the one you love can take time. As its name suggests, Scandinavian Designs has extremely similar style as IKEA. Though the prices are higher, the quality and aesthetics are also very nice.
The younger, hipper, cheaper sister store of Crate & Barrel, CB2 carries a variety of modern, minimalist, and industrial furniture pieces. Be prepared to pay a premium, but there are a lot of great craftsmanship and design. Dwell, our favorite magazine covering all things modern architecture and design, have a little known store that offer fantastic high-end designs at surprisingly accessible prices. Though they aren’t as economical as IKEA, you can find many items near the CB2 range with a tremendous design appeal. The products on World Market are less modern, leaning towards a chic, industrial, worldly look. You can find some good items here at good price ranges. Pier 1, similar to World Market, doesn’t have the usual modern, Scandinavian aesthetics. Furniture and decor tend to have a contemporary look that attempts to fit in every home at price ranges that attract the masses. Urban Outfitters is one of the best sources for contemporary, chic, bohemian products.
Though better known for clothing and apparel, their home department actually carries highly unique products that you won’t find on any of the stores listed above. That wraps it up for today. Let us know if you have other suggestions. IKEA is quite remarkable in their sheer dominance in selling beautiful, modern, simple designs at such affordable price ranges. However, these 10 stores along with our own should more than satisfy your shopping needs. Hope our list is able to help you out!Black Friday and Cyber Monday are almost upon us. Though it began in America, Black Friday was brought to the UK by Amazon and has since spawned into the weekend-long sales extravaganza that is the biggest shopping event of the year in Britain. Falling on November 25 this year - the Friday after Thanksgiving in America - Black Friday also kick-starts the Christmas gift-buying season. IKEA didn't participate in Black Friday in 2015, but will the Swedish furniture giant have a change of heart this year?
Will they or won't they? Bad news, furniture fans. IKEA won't be participating in Black Friday 2016 either, but that doesn't mean you won't be able to snag some great deals. It's still worth popping along to your nearest store to browse the Billy bookcases and pick up some tea-lights. Country sales manager for IKEA UK & Ireland, Emily Birkin, said: "Low price is the cornerstone of the IKEA vision and we will always remain focused on providing a range of home furnishing products that are affordable to as many people as possible. "Each year we look at how we can invest in reducing our prices even further, from design and production to more efficient packaging and transport. Our ambition is to offer everyday low prices all year round, which is why we won't take part in temporary discounting events." Be in the know Though IKEA isn't participating in Black Friday, you'll still want to be in the loop to hear news of any sales or new products so make sure you're subscribed to the IKEA UK Facebook and Twitter pages.
Keep an eye out for products marked "New Lower Price" in store and online too. Find out more about all the Black Friday deals out there by heading to our other Black Friday pages - where we've laid out all the best offers for you - and our Telegraph Promotions Facebook and Twitter accounts. Black Friday 2015 saw us collectively spend £2bn in shops and online in the 24 hour period, and £3.3bn overall over the entire four day weekend. By 9.10pm, Black Friday had already become Amazon’s biggest sales day ever in the UK, with more than six million items ordered. Other retailers - such as John Lewis, Argos, Boots, Tesco and Game - all struggled to cope with the volume of online orders and saw significant downtime on their respective websites. Black Friday, but with dignity Feeling overwhelmed by the idea of Black Friday already? Then read our handy guide on how to snap up the best deals without losing your cool. And if meeting the masses in real life seems too tiring, keep your eyes peeled for the best Cyber Monday deals - retailers’ online equivalent which happens three days later.