Just weeks after five fake Apple stores caused a media uproar, a knockoff Ikea store was found in the same city of Kunming, a location now notorious for its large scale counterfeits. 11 Furniture Store takes the crown for taking the artistry of imitation to the next level.
The four-story, 10,000-square-meter building copies the original Swedish retailer from the sweeping yellow and blue color scheme to the tiniest details like the stubby pencils. The cozy-looking, Western-style mockup rooms are filled with replicas of Ikea's signature furniture. You can even take a break at the cafeteria, which sports sleek modern furniture. The imitation 11 Furniture's Chinese name "Yi Jia Jia Ju" has the ring of Ikea's full Chinese name, "Shi Yi Jia Ju."
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Knockoff designer bags and pirated DVDs are old news in China. The new trend in counterfeiting is to copy an entire brand experience, which is more about the service than the products.