According to data released by IKEA China, the sales growth rate of the Chinese market in the 2016, 2017 and 2018 fiscal years was 19.4%, 14% and 9.3%, respectively, which continued to slow down. In November 2018, IKEA, which had been hesitant to carry out multi-channel marketing due to the sluggish growth of offline business and the rapid growth of online pilot business, finally officially launched its e-commerce service for 149 cities across the country in November 2018.
However, sofas are different from small household products, and it is quite necessary to touch and take a look at offline stores before buying. IKEA is also a brand that promotes experiential shopping, and unlike traditional stores, its store staff do not actively promote products, but want users to choose their favorite style by trying on the sofa.
In addition to judging the quality of the sofa by trying to sit, IKEA also provides detailed information on sofa materials for users' reference. The labels on the sofa will indicate the details of the main frame, armrest frame, back cushion and seat cushion, etc., and the product is relatively transparent.
However, the materials used in the IKEA sofa are only in the middle and low configuration, and the frame is mostly a combination of solid wood, plywood and particleboard, and the load-bearing performance is not as good as that of a pure solid wood frame. In terms of padding, IKEA sofas mostly use 20-35D foam, and the density of cushion sponge is higher, while the density of sponge in armrests and backrests is lower. If you are looking for comfort and durability, it is recommended to choose a style with a cushion foam density of 35D.
The abrasion resistance and fade resistance (lightfastness) of different fabrics of IKEA fabric sofas are also different, and the labels on the sofas in the offline store do not indicate these two indicators, while some styles in the online store will be marked, and it is best to ask the store staff when buying offline. If durability is desired, it is recommended to choose fabrics that have undergone more than 30,000 abrasion resistance tests and have a lightfastness of grade 5 or above.
IKEA currently sells dozens of fabric sofas, mainly divided into five series: two-person sofas, three-person sofas, corner sofas, modular sofas and sofa beds, with prices mostly concentrated between 2,000-5,000 yuan, and some high-end styles close to 10,000 yuan. Among them, the two-seater sofa, three-seater sofa and sofa bed are relatively small, which is more suitable for small and medium-sized houses. The corner sofa has a choice of 4-6 seats, which is more suitable for larger units. Modular sofas are more flexible, and different sofa modules can be selected according to the size of the living room to DIY a unique sofa combination.
The 9999 yuan Stockholm sofa is the highest-priced fabric sofa in IKEA, and its highlight is the use of velvet fabric, which is not only comfortable to the skin, but also has a reflective effect, which can improve the grade of home decoration. In addition, this sofa comes with 5 large cushions and 5 small cushions, and the seat cushions are mainly made of 35D foam for high comfort. Stockholm was named the "Best Editor's Choice" in the "Best IKEA Sofa List" by the specialist home furnishing website Apartment therapy, with a top score of 4.3 out of 5 for comfort.
If you are looking for value for money, we recommend the IKEA Kivi sofa. The price of the three-person style of the Qiwei sofa is 2499 yuan, and this sofa was rated as the "best cost-effective choice" in the list of the best online sofas evaluated by the authoritative evaluation media thewirecutter. The seat cushions of the Kivi sofa are padded with 35D foam and the armrests are wide, although the sitting feeling is slightly stiffer, but the overall comfort is acceptable. However, many users have reported that the armrests of Qiwei are low, which is more comfortable to lie down, and it is easy to feel uncomfortable to the hands when sitting for a long time.
