Advertisement

Spanish Ikea fans camp out for cash prizes

Steve Tallantyre
Steve Tallantyre - [email protected]
Spanish Ikea fans camp out for cash prizes
File Photo: John Moore/Getty Images/AFP

Over 50 people, mostly dressed in Ikea's signature blue and yellow, are camping out in the summer sun in the hope of winning cash prizes for being the first customers in the Swedish furniture chain's new establishment in Valencia.

Advertisement

The shop, which is due to open on Tuesday in the municipality of Alfafar, is offering €500 ($677) for the first person through the doors and €100 for the next 100, on one condition: the winners must be dressed in blue and yellow.

Spain’s Huffington Post reported that Ikea is also offering 11 trolleys of free goods to randomly chosen customers.

Don't miss stories about Spain, join The Local on Facebook and Twitter.

Those keenest to get their hands on the prizes have been queuing for three days, sleeping in tents and cooking on portable stoves.

They are passing their time by reading Ikea catalogues and watching a giant digital display which counts down the hours, minutes and seconds to opening.

The imminent arrival of Ikea’s new store has already ruffled feathers in the region, with a local retail and business association, Acomval, expressing support for the mayor of Alfafar, Juan Ramón Adsuara, who has ruled out the possibility of it opening on Sundays.

"Sunday opening is not necessary as this leads to greater job insecurity and hinders the balance of work and family life," it said in a statement.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also