IKEA Invents Faux Luxe Brand To Make Shoppers Rethink Its Furniture
By Mikelle Leow, 13 Jan 2024
Video screenshot via IKEA UK
IKEA’s products are recognized for their affordability and accessibility. Are they known for being opulent, though? Not really. However, slap on a new label—one that’s not blue and yellow—and the tables may turn, as the saying goes.
The Swedish giant has assembled a delightful surprise to challenge preconceived notions about its kitchens—‘Eureka Spiritsis’. Huh? Who? Wha-? Eureka Spiritsis.
This sophisticated, up-and-coming brand prides itself on cooking up high-end kitchens. Its launch video showcases a deluxe kitchen replete with mix-and-match doors and drawers, boasting a warranty of 25 years.
Video screenshot via IKEA UK
However, customers soon learn that Eureka Spiritsis items likely already exist in their homes. It turns out the name is an anagram for “SURPRISE, IT’S IKEA.”
For added flair, the furniture retailer enlisted etiquette expert William Hanson, known for his polished demeanor, to be the face of Eureka Spiritsis’ video. The clever misdirection, dreamed up by advertising agency Mother London, serves to portray the often underestimated design and quality of IKEA kitchens.
For a short while, the label made its appearance in the real world at an influencer event in London. Attendees, under the impression they were witnessing the reveal of an upscale brand, were later revealed the truth.
Video screenshot via IKEA UK
Video screenshot via IKEA UK
IKEA UK wanted to shake up perceptions and prove that its kitchens aren’t just about affordable solutions but also about style, practicality, and durability.
For many consumers, this revelation might come as a huge eureka moment.
[via Creative Salon, Little Black Book, Mother London, video and screenshots via IKEA UK]