i was asked a question about ikea today by my boyfriend that i really don't know the answer on (and hope that it's an answer i will like!) : how are they with labor?

Meaning child labor in manufacturing or labor practices with employees?

This treehugger post might help answer that question:

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/10/ikeas_environme.php

I have a stupid question -- on the IKEA site they are listed as "quilt covers" -- is that the same thing as a duvet cover?

*walks away feeling dumb* ;-)

>But unless you plan on working there, who
>cares what their labor plan is?

Because as a taxpayer I don't want to end up footing the bill for their employees' healthcare costs, the way I do with all of those part-time (because they won't hire full time) WalMart workers.

Good grief, indeed . . .

Wow.. that's equally mercenary. Neither of you care where you put your money just on principle? There has to be something in it for you? That's a tremendously sad look into people's motivations.

"Wal-Mart has the distinction of having four of its Walton owners ranked among America's 10 richest people, according to Forbes. The Waltons do especially well because their employees do especially poorly, with clerks earning, on average, 40 percent less than unionized workers, and receiving either marginal health care coverage or none at all.

The chain keeps its prices low and owners rich. Last year the five Walton heirs saw their net worth increase from $94 billion to $102 billion." - San Diego Union-Tribune

$102 Billion! Why can't they afford to hire union workers boomer? We aren't talking about "most stores" we're talking big box.

>Neither of you care where you put your money just
>on principle? There has to be something in it for you?

Well, unlike Boomer I do care about something other than my pocketbook, but yeah, the fact Wal*Mart is sticking me with much of their employee healthcare costs while raking in massive profits is sort of the icing on the "I'd never shop there" cake.

I'd also like to know how a family with a net worth of $102 billion can't afford to hire on needed workers full time and cover their healthcare costs. Given the size of their labor force, they could certainly negotiate a better deal with an HMO than any other employer in America.

i'm so glad i asked this. i actually meant both, to tell you the truth, and i think the discussion here has been helpful, if only just for brain exercises concerning consumerism.

I'm glad that you brought this up too Elizabeth. I really think if we were all a little more concerned with the moral cost of some of our purchases we wouldn't think they were such a great deal.

And back to the main subject, that top duvet pattern is sweet!

I agree....the subject is Ikea's new patterns, and not the Walton family's wealth. (There has been resistance in Portland to Ikea's arrival this summer, due to it being a big box, possibly getting preferential treatment in zoning regarding size of signs, etc.) The patterns are great, especially the Joseph Frank inspired piece.

i asked this because i was going to ikea in atlanta this weekend - buying all the stuff i neede for my house in one trip - and it was awesome, of course. i had only been to one in france, and called my mother and said "OH MY GOD THERE'S THIS AWESOME STORE HERE LET'S MOVE TO FRANCE FOR IKEA!" and ever since i realized we had them here, i have been making a list of things to buy when i made my two hour drive to atlanta. and i did. and it was awesome. and now i have pretty lamps, rugs, a wok, dishes....all sorts of things!! plus, now i have all wooden hangers instead of wire and plastic - are those recyclable?

I thought these were fabulous too until I saw them in person. The patterns are ginormous. I wanted a yard for a lampshade: nope. That project would be too small for these:never mind a 20x20 inch pillow!