If you're a cat lover or if your dream is to have your home filled with cats but it never happened, you're in luck -- an IKEA flagship store in Wembley, United Kingdom has recently launched an experiment called 'Herding Cats' where it released 100 cats (not film trained) inside its Wembley store during the night when the store was closed. The team at IKEA simply just lets the 100 cats roam freely around the empty store, for no reason at all. Even the team says, with the amount of cats running free, who knows what will happen.
There will be a team of animal handlers along with five film groups to catch the cats in action so that every crevice, every nook the cats manage to get their paws on will be filmed. There will be a night vision camera and an infrared camera for when the cats go into dark spaces.
Furniture Store Feline Experiments
IKEA Let 100 Cats Run Rampant in 'Herding Cats' Experiment
Trend Themes
1. Cat-inspired Home Decor - Opportunity to create cat-themed furniture and accessories for cat lovers.
2. Experiential Retail - Chance to incorporate unique and interactive experiences, like letting animals roam freely, in retail stores to attract customers.
3. Animal-centric Marketing - Potential to tap into the emotional connection people have with animals to promote products and services in various industries.
Industry Implications
1. Furniture - Furniture companies can explore creating cat-friendly furniture and accessories that blend functionality with playful design.
2. Retail - Retailers can consider incorporating experiential elements, such as animal interactions, to enhance customer engagement and drive foot traffic.
3. Marketing and Advertising - Marketing agencies can develop campaigns that leverage animal-centric themes to evoke emotional responses and connect with consumers on a deeper level.