IKEA (宜家) has become a popular check-in spot for netizens’ photoshoots due to its aesthetic interior design, home décor, and furniture. So far, IKEA owns 37 local stores in China, mainly located in Tier 1 and Tier cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, etc. In recent years, its massive indoor space and enormous warehouses with high ceilings are especially popular among influencers on Chinese social media, RED (小红书).
IKEA Shanghai’s response to photoshoot prohibition sparks debate
Recently, a netizen posted on RED claiming that it should have been normal to take photos in IKEA. However, a security worker asked her friend and her to leave when they were taking photos. The duo was treated as if they had done something wrong. Therefore, they immediately left without even finishing eating the food they ordered at the IKEA café.
Although the netizen posted this incident to find out more about IKEA’s policy on photoshoots in an IKEA store, the post triggered discussions under the hashtag #IKEA Shanghai responds to the prohibition of photoshoots in warehouses#. It went viral on Weibo in the 1st week of March and was viewed over 150 million times within two days. IKEA Shanghai customer service responded that usually customers are allowed to take one or two photos in IKEA. However, photoshoots are generally prohibited when it hindered other customers’ shopping experiences.
How Chinese netizens view “IKEA’s new policy”: insights from Weibo
“It (photoshoots in IKEA) should have been banned long ago. Every time you go shopping, you have to pay attention to avoid blocking the camera. Then you have to wait for them to finish before you take anything (from the shelf). Some people can take pictures for half a day standing in one place.” A netizen commented on Weibo. Another netizen responded differently on RED, saying that IKEA should be more inclusive. He opined that IKEA should encourage people to take photos in their warehouse as it brings free publicity to the brand on social media.
Key takeaways:
- IKEA has become a popular check-in spot for netizens’ photoshoots in China due to its aesthetic interior design, home décor, and furniture.
- A netizen’s post on RED about being asked to leave by a security worker while taking photos in IKEA triggered discussions about IKEA’s policy on photoshoots.
- IKEA Shanghai customer service responded that customers are generally allowed to take one or two photos in IKEA, but photoshoots are prohibited if they hinder other customers’ shopping experiences.
- Netizens have different opinions on whether IKEA should allow photoshoots in its warehouses, with some saying it brings free publicity to the brand on social media, while others argue that it can be disruptive to other customers’ shopping experiences.
