- Swedish furniture giant accused of racial profiling
- Store boss claims groups have been attempting to set up camp on
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Shock: Camper van owner Luke Massey, 27, was astonished when an Ikea security guard challenged him as he and his family arrived at a store
Swedish furniture giant Ikea has begun screening shoppers who arrive at stores in camper vans or mobile homes in a bid to prevent gypsies from setting up home in their car parks.
Luke Massey, 27, was astonished when a security guard challenged him on a family outing to their Valley Park store, in Croydon, south London.
The guard, who was caught on tape, told him: 'If you had said yes [to being a gypsy] I wouldn’t have let you into the premises.'
Mr Massey visited the store with his girlfriend and her mother on Monday, June 4.
On entry to the car park the group, who were travelling in a small camper van, were flagged down by an Ikea parking attendant who asked whether they were gypsies.
Mr Massey, from Streatham, south London, said: 'We were just aghast and my partner said ‘What? Are you serious?’
'We argued with him there for about a minute before he said ‘ok go on’, it was like he was convinced we weren’t gypsy so we could go on.
'I know this kind a camper van is slightly unusual, but it is not exclusively used by the travelling community.'
After parking Mr Massey went to remonstrate with the attendant, who said they were not the only people he had stopped and questioned.
Not welcome: Mr Massey's small camper van. Ikea have begun employing security guards to prevent gypsies from entering their car parks
In a recording of the conversation, the attendant can be heard to say: 'A lot of them are coming in similar cars. If you had said yes [to being a gypsy] I wouldn’t have let you into the premises.
'We are stopping them because they are coming in and taking things of our loyal customers, that is why I’m here in the car park.'
Mr Massey said: 'We were honestly gob smacked. Even if they have had problems with travellers using their electricity supply or parking there at night it doesn’t justify the racial profiling of customers at the front door.
'It is not acceptable, I’m disgusted.'
Response: A spokesman for the store in Croydon, South London, said that in recent months travellers had been trying to set up camp in the car park
Garry Deakin, Ikea Croydon store manager said: 'Over recent months the travelling community in the Croydon area have been attempting to access the customer car park to set up their mobile homes, which not only has an impact on our customers’ shopping experience, but also poses a health and safety risk due to the build up of human and animal waste.
'After discussions with both the local traveller liaison officer and Croydon Council, Ikea Croydon implemented preventative procedures to secure the car park, including a security officer to patrol the entry to the car park to prevent the mobile homes entering the car park.'
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Bay Area Furniture Showroom Flegel’s Now on Facebook and Twitter - YAHOO!
Flegel’s Interior Design & Distinctive Furnishings is now on Facebook and Twitter. Stay up-to-date with the latest in interior design offerings from California’s largest furniture showroom.
Menlo Park, CA (PRWEB) June 13, 2012
Flegel’s Interior Design & Distinctive Furnishings, the largest Bay Area furniture showroom, recently amped up its social media presence with a new Facebook business page and Twitter account. Fans of Flegel’s will receive updates on what the interior design authority is offering now and in the future.“If you’re interested in finding out what we’re carrying and what we think are the best new trends for interior design, you can now like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter,” said Brian Flegel, owner of Flegel’s. “We’re always getting new things in and offering great sales, so now you’ll be more in the loop.”
Flegel’s plans to become more social-media conscious by starting conversations about interior design trends and spreading awareness about the latest in quality furniture offerings. Posts on topics like “Three Life-Changing Room Makeovers,” sale updates and information, and new products will keep Flegel’s fans regularly updated.
With showrooms in San Ramon and Menlo Park, Flegel’s carries California’s largest collection of high-end bedroom furniture, living room furniture, dining room furniture and office furnishings from a wide variety of internationally acclaimed manufacturers.
Flegel’s carries top-quality pieces from brands like Baker, Stickley, Swaim, Councill, Hancock & Moore, Milling Road, Jessica Charles, McGuire, Sligh, Theodore Alexander, Henredon, Alder & Company, Woodbridge and more.
To become a fan of Flegel’s on Facebook, visit http://www.facebook.com/FlegelsInteriorDesign, or follow Flegel’s on Twitter, @FlegelsHome.
For more information about Flegel’s Interior Design & Distinctive Furnishings social media pages, or for information about any products or services from the Bay Area furniture company, please call (650) 352-3648, visit flegels.com or stop by one of the showrooms.
Flegel’s Menlo Park
870 Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025
Tel: 650-326-9661 | Fax: 650-326-0869
Hours: 10AM to 6PM Monday-Saturday
Flegel’s San Ramon
300 Market Place, San Ramon, CA 94583
Tel: 925-806-0430 | Fax: 925-806-0443
Hours: 10 to 6 Tuesday-Saturday, 12 to 5 Sunday
About Flegel’s
Flegel’s showrooms house the finest collections of furniture in the San Francisco Bay Area. Most visitors are surprised to find so many pieces of fine furniture readily available for their inspection. Flegel’s features large collections of Stickley, Baker, Councill, Swaim, and more. The only thing more exceptional than the furniture is the friendly San Francisco interior designers on staff. Anyone thinking of redecorating a San Francisco living room, dining room, bedroom or any other part of the house is invited to come in and talk to one of the friendly Flegel’s interior decorators today.
Flegel’s serves the San Francisco Bay Area communities of Atherton, Burlingame, Carmel, Danville, Fremont, Hillsborough, Lafayette, Livermore, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Menlo Park, Moraga, Marin, Mountain View, Orinda, Palo Alto, Pebble Beach, Pleasanton, San Francisco, San Jose, San Mateo, San Rafael, San Ramon, Saratoga, Tiburon, Walnut Creek, Woodside, the greater Bay Area, and worldwide.
Brian Flegel
Flegel's Home Furnishings and Interior Design
(650) 352-3648
Email Information
Source: news.yahoo.com
Ikea employs security guards to stop gypsies entering car parks - Daily Telegraph
"We argued with him there for about a minute before he said 'OK go on', it was like he was convinced we weren't gipsy so we could go on.
"I know this kind a camper van is slightly unusual, but it is not exclusively used by the travelling community."
After parking the van, he went to remonstrate with the guard who said they were not the only people he had stopped and questioned.
The guard, who was caught on tape, told him: "A lot of them are coming in similar cars. If you had said yes [to being a gipsy] I wouldn't have let you into the premises."
In the recording of the conversation, the attendant can be heard to say: "We are stopping them because they are coming in and taking things off our loyal customers, that is why I'm here in the car park."
Mr Massey added: "We were honestly gob smacked. Even if they have had problems with travellers using their electricity supply or parking there at night it doesn't justify the racial profiling of customers at the front door. "It is not acceptable, I'm disgusted."
The Gypsy Council said Ikea "should be ashamed of itself". A spokesman added: "God help anyone who they think looks like a Gypsy – lots of Gypsies don't walk around with big earrings."
But Garry Deakin, the Ikea store manager at Croydon, defended the practice.
He said: "Over recent months the travelling community in the Croydon area have been attempting to access the customer car park to set up their mobile homes.
"(It) not only has an impact on our customers' shopping experience, but also poses a health and safety risk due to the build up of human and animal waste.
"After discussions with both the local traveller liaison officer and Croydon Council, Ikea Croydon implemented preventative procedures to secure the car park, including a security officer to patrol the entry to the car park to prevent the mobile homes entering the car park."
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Furniture store flying the flag - Nottingham Evening Post
IT'S not hard to get lost in Nottingham's largest independent furniture store, which boasts a vast 50,000 square feet of showrooms. Occupying a large, key site on Huntingdon Street, Hopewells is currently flying a number of Union Jack flags in honour of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
The store, which sells a vast selection of modern, inspirational designs, normally flies the flags of some of the European companies represented in store, but has replaced them all with Union Jacks to mark the occasion.
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Key site: The store and some of the stunning furniture on sale.
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While the excitement of the last couple of weekends is now dying down for many, it is just starting for Hopewells.
The store's summer sale starts after the preview for existing customers on June 16 and 17.
The family-run store, which has traded since 1885, first developed its reputation for refreshing modern designs back in the 1950s, importing light and vibrant woods and styles from Scandinavia and other European countries.
But today it has not only asserted itself as an interior design beacon but also a company synonymous with quality and service too.
Managing director Adam Hopewell runs the store with his wife Janet, director, his father John Hopewell, chairman, and associate director Alan Ball, who said: "Together we endeavour to ensure standards are maintained and Hopewells remains a destination to inspire rather than mimic the more typical outlets found on the retail parks."
Some of the store's key brands include Stressless of Norway, Ligne Roset of France, Natuzzi of Italy, Hulsta of Germany, Skovby of Denmark. Duresta and Hypnos are just two of the many quality British brands that are showcased.
The building itself is one of Nottingham's more unusual. The side of the building which can be seen from road level was built in 1973 and links through a second floor level to a 19th century mill with another three floors – each one measuring 10,000 square feet.
Mr Ball says: "We aim to inspire and are able to completely furnish a home not only with exceptional products but with a wealth of experience within our company to help ensure our customers are thrilled with the result and return each time they require furnishings or accessories.
"Although we don't sell kitchens or bathrooms, in terms of furniture and furnishings we do pretty much everything else.
"We have our own interior designers but we also work closely with many designers and architects who are able to utilise our showrooms rather than selling to their customers from catalogues, taking advantage of the array of products that just won't be found anywhere else in the region.
"You might find some of our products in a high quality store like Harrods, but our selection is really quite unique."
So whether it's an inspirational accessory, bespoke soft furnishings, flooring expertly fitted or simply furniture you will cherish, all supplied with service honed over generations and with the guarantee of the best value, it really does have to be Hopewells.
The company aims to offer high quality at the best value and promises to match the prices of its products, if found elsewhere at a lower price.
The store is open from 9am to 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday, and on Sundays from 10am to 4pm.
The company plans to begin trading online in the near future, offering a selection from the vast ranges for those who prefer to shop from home. Visit www.hopewells.co.uk
For more details, phone 0115 953 6000 or e-mail info@hopewells.co.uk
Source: www.thisisnottingham.co.uk
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