Ikea coming to Jacksonville

[jcjohnpaint]

quite a bit over 2 mil and growing much faster than us. 

[thelakelander]

2012 US Census Bureau population estimate and growth percentage between 2010-2012:

2,920,603 (+3.64%) - Orlando-Deltona-Daytona Beach, FL Combined Statistical Area

1,502,515 (+2.18%) - Jacksonville-St. Marys-Palatka, FL-GA Combined Statistical Area

These numbers don't reflect the amount of tourist down there or the extra million living in Polk (616,158, +2.34%) and Brevard (547,307, +0.72%) that are within a 30-45 minute drive of Orlando.

[Keith-N-Jax]

What's so great about Ikea?

[thelakelander]

It's just a little lust over things many may want but aren't present locally. IKEA, Macy's, Bass Pro, a vibrant 24/7 downtown atmosphere, reliable mass transit, etc......

[Ocklawaha]

We may be a few numbers short, but I think incentives, mail orders and those communities closer to Jax then any other store could push us over the top pretty easily. What is the closest store to Tallahassee? What's the MSA population? Add just those closer ones and you hit the 2 million mark with some to spare.

Waycross MSA 50,000
Camden County MSA 50,000
Valdosta MSA 140,000
Lake City MSA 67,000
Gainesville MSA 260,000

567,000 more easily within the trade area.

This is not a situation where IKEA (or anybody else) wants to 'stay out of Jax.' They are in business to make money, they have a formula, and if we can show that we meet that grade, we're in. If IKEA finds a hot market for ultra-modern isn't even a consideration, with a segment of our city considered lower wage, they'll blow Wal-Mart out of the water on those little things like dinnerware, baskets, curtains etc.. They'll come, just don't worry if it's not announced tomorrow.

[Keith-N-Jax]

I'm with everything you said after Bass Pro, but the rest are meh, guess its just me. I don't  shop at those places. Give me a functional DT and the rest will follow.

[Josh]

What's so great about Ikea?

Halfway-decent furniture and other furnishings for extremely low prices. Furniture savings are passed along to the consumer in the form of assembly being required.

Also meatballs...

[Coolyfett]

Who cares. What is the big deal about this place? We need to double our population? Charlotte and Austin are not double our population according to the numbers above.

I say F em! Duval dont need them.

[thelakelander]

We may be a few numbers short, but I think incentives, mail orders and those communities closer to Jax then any other store could push us over the top pretty easily. What is the closest store to Tallahassee? What's the MSA population? Add just those closer ones and you hit the 2 million mark with some to spare.

Waycross MSA 50,000
Camden County MSA 50,000
Valdosta MSA 140,000
Lake City MSA 67,000
Gainesville MSA 260,000

567,000 more easily within the trade area.

This is not a situation where IKEA (or anybody else) wants to 'stay out of Jax.' They are in business to make money, they have a formula, and if we can show that we meet that grade, we're in. If IKEA finds a hot market for ultra-modern isn't even a consideration, with a segment of our city considered lower wage, they'll blow Wal-Mart out of the water on those little things like dinnerware, baskets, curtains etc.. They'll come, just don't worry if it's not announced tomorrow.

Gainesville?  That population is just as likely to drive to an existing store in metro Tampa or Orlando. Stretching to include Valdosta/Tallahassee as a part of your core market demographics? We're really in trouble.

From my experience, many of these companies have the ability to evaluate potential markets that fit their demographic and site location criteria in-house. If we're having to rely on small communities 2 hours away just to meet the minimal figure, we're probably a good decade or two off of being a viable market for that specific product.  With that said, there's no shame in being a smaller market.  As we grew, new opportunities will find their way to Jax.

[Coolyfett]

Cool,  it is snap together cheap furniture.   Who cares

Right! I can get that from Wal Mart

Im sure Jax has something that sellswhat IKEA has. People just want the brand name. Im Jax has alternatives.

[MusicMan]

Love to have one here. Best location would be River City Marketplace, plus would be a great spot for SE United Sates Distribution Center.

[tufsu1]

We may be a few numbers short, but I think incentives, mail orders and those communities closer to Jax then any other store could push us over the top pretty easily. What is the closest store to Tallahassee? What's the MSA population? Add just those closer ones and you hit the 2 million mark with some to spare.

Waycross MSA 50,000
Camden County MSA 50,000
Valdosta MSA 140,000
Lake City MSA 67,000
Gainesville MSA 260,000

567,000 more easily within the trade area.

This is not a situation where IKEA (or anybody else) wants to 'stay out of Jax.' They are in business to make money, they have a formula, and if we can show that we meet that grade, we're in. If IKEA finds a hot market for ultra-modern isn't even a consideration, with a segment of our city considered lower wage, they'll blow Wal-Mart out of the water on those little things like dinnerware, baskets, curtains etc.. They'll come, just don't worry if it's not announced tomorrow.

Gainesville?  That population is just as likely to drive to an existing store in metro Tampa or Orlando. Stretching to include Valdosta/Tallahassee as a part of your core market demographics? We're really in trouble.

sorry Ock, but the article is pretty clear on what IKEA considers its core market area...

"Roth explained that when IKEA looks for a site, it needs a population of at least 2 million people within 40-60 miles or within 40-60 minutes of drive-time."

given this, Lake City, Palm Coast and Gainesville are out...and south Georgia and Palatka might also not work depending on location.

[I-10east]

I say F em! Duval dont need them.

+1000

I'm so over the IKEA talk, like I'm supposed to wait on pins & needles. When they decide to come fine, til then I could care less about the 'not enough people to support IKEA' blah blah blah etc ad nausem. 

[Overstreet]

What's so great about Ikea?

Halfway-decent furniture and other furnishings for extremely low prices. Furniture savings are passed along to the consumer in the form of assembly being required.

Also meatballs...

I'm certainly not their market subject either. I'm getting rid of furniture at this stage.

Now if they had boats, fishing tackle, outdoor gear or  high end sea kayaks we might talk.

[Josh]

Cool,  it is snap together cheap furniture.   Who cares

Right! I can get that from Wal Mart

Im sure Jax has something that sellswhat IKEA has. People just want the brand name. Im Jax has alternatives.

People want an Ikea store because there is nothing else that compares. It's how they've managed to become the company they are. The Ikea brand is actually the least desirable aspect of their products.