HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - University of Alabama in Huntsville electrician Paul Brandon didn't even know IKEA existed until about two years ago when former Ikea*run owner Todd Harmon asked him for help with a trip to the massive Atlanta store.

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The Hazel Green resident had no idea at the time he would one day take over his friend's small business, launched in part by high demand for an IKEA store in Alabama and specifically Huntsville.

Brandon and wife Megan, a Madison County school teacher, have operated Ikea*run for about a year and show no signs of slowing down anytime soon. The nearly 4-year-old business offers delivery of IKEA goods so customers don't have to spend time or gas driving to Atlanta or pay steep shipping fees to have the items delivered to their home.

Although IKEA typically targets metropolitan areas with populations of at least 1.5 to 2 million people, the Swedish furniture company has been at the top of Huntsville's most-wanted retailers list for several years.

AL.com sat down with Brandon this week to discuss his business:

1. How does Ikea*run work?

A. Really, it's just real simple. When you go to my website, you place an order through my website and you use the same numbers that the IKEA catalog or their website has. You just enter the product that you want, how much it is and it sends me an email. All I do is make out an invoice through PayPal, send it to you and you just pay for it. I include my shipping costs and the Atlanta tax. When I have enough orders or depending on how long a period of time it's been, that's when I go and pick everything up and deliver it.

2. When is your next IKEA run and how often do you do these deliveries?

A. Jan. 10. It really depends on how many orders I have. One time I've gone one week and then two weeks later I've gone again. Right now, it's kind of slowed down just because it's Christmas time, but it usually picks back up after the New Year. I try to go about once a month if I can. Sometimes, I may have to push it back, but I try to do it at least once a month.

3. Are you a big IKEA fan?

A. I like the furniture. As a matter of fact, I had never even heard of it until the guy who had the business before me said he was going to IKEA one weekend and needed some help. I had no idea, never heard of it, so he told me what it was. I was blown away at how big it was and what all they have and just the sheer amount of volume of things that they carry, from couch cushions to light bulbs to plants to whatever. I was amazed at how big it was. I do like it. I've got several pieces of IKEA furniture now in my house.

4. How has business been since you took over the company a year ago?

A. It's been pretty good. Sometimes, of course, like any business, I'm in it to make a little bit. I'm not trying to make a killing, but I like to make a little bit of money. I've had customers that have placed orders with me in the past and I know how good they are. This last time that I went a couple of weeks ago, I really just kind of broke even just to get all the stuff that the people needed. ... As little as I am and what I can do, it's been pretty good.

5. How does the pricing structure work?

A. It was set up before my time, but it's basically just an algorithm. It's about $39 for every $100 that you spend. The more that you spend, that goes down a little bit the more that you purchase. It's really inexpensive compared to what IKEA will try to charge you and there's some things that IKEA won't even ship you, like a lamp or something. They won't send it to you because you're not either ordering enough or you're not close enough or things like that.

6. What's the biggest shipment you've done so far?

A. The biggest one I've done so far is right before I took over the business, me and the other guy who used to run it, we had a U-Haul truck full and the back of his truck full of furniture. We actually furnished one of those new apartments (in downtown Huntsville). We furnished the whole apartment, from the cooking to the dishes to the beds to the tables to everything in the whole apartment.

7. Who are your customers?

A. It's mainly in the Huntsville/Madison area. There is a lady that orders from me close to Florence. She comes and meets me and I drop off her stuff, but I've delivered all over Madison County, from way out on County Line Road to by my house in Hazel Green and all over the place. It's not one type or one age group of people either. I've had college students and elderly people and anybody in between.

8. Is there any kind of insurance available if there is a road accident or merchandise is damaged during the delivery process?

A. If there's any kind of parts that are broken or anything like that, I'll take it back, I'll make it right. Of course, if there's any kind of crazy accident, I'll take care of that. I'm not going to make somebody pay for something that's broke. We have a policy on our website that's 90 days. After 90 days, it's yours, but I have returned stuff for people that have gotten something and said, "You know what? This isn't what I thought it was." I'll return it for them on the next trip.

9. What are the biggest benefits IKEA shoppers get from this service?



A. The biggest benefit is you don't have to do anything. All you have to do is input some numbers on a website and then that's it. I do everything strictly for you. I pick it up, I drop it off at your house, and I take care of everything for you. Make sure it's all right, all the pieces are there, and when I go pick it up, I try to deliver everything that day.

10. Do you think Huntsville could support an IKEA store?



A. No, I don't. One of the reasons is IKEA is so big. If you ever go, you'll understand. It has to be a major city for them to invest that kind of money in because of the amount of workforce they employ, the amount of revenue they generate, and the tax money for all that stuff. They'll never even come close to being around here.