Larger-Than-Life IKEA Bottles to "Wash Up" at the St. Pete Pier This Weekend!!

LARGER-THAN-LIFE BOTTLES BEACHSIDE NEAR ST. PETERSBURG PIER CONTAIN MESSAGES FROM HOMES AND FREE MEALS

 

IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, today revealed plans for oversized glass bottles displaying IKEA products to convey ‘messages’ near the St. Petersburg Pier throughout Memorial Day weekend.  Tampa Bay-area residents and visitors will have the opportunity to experience the furniture and inspiration found inside the new IKEA Tampa – which opened May 6, 2009 near Ybor City – while still enjoying the sun and sand during their holiday weekend.

The four giant ‘message’ bottles, each upward of 6-feet tall, respectively, will contain a life-sized chair, bookshelf, bed and children’s furniture.  In addition, IKEA representatives will be distributing 6,000 smaller bottles containing a ‘message’ asking passers-by if their homes are trying to send them a message.  Each mini-bottle’s scroll will include a coupon for a free meal in the IKEA Tampa restaurant. Visitors to this IKEA ‘Message in a Bottle’ event also will have the opportunity to enter a drawing to win an EKTORP seating arrangement – a set including an armchair, love seat and sofa.  The event will run from Friday, May 22 through Monday, May 25 in the Waterside Courtyard at the St. Petersburg Pier. Free meal coupons will be valid through June 14, 2009.     

“We wanted to continue the fun and outreach begun with the May 6 grand opening of IKEA Tampa,” said Monica Varela, store manager of IKEA Tampa. “Since IKEA offers solutions for the home, we want to provide Tampa Bay-area residents and visitors the opportunity to see our affordable, stylish and functional furnishings, while still allowing them to enjoy the beach.  And, if they’re hungry and looking for a place to eat over the weekend or during the next few weeks, they can come to our restaurant with their coupon and get a great, free meal.”