IKEA building under white clouds during daytime

IKEA Slides Into Sleepless Canadians’ DMs with a Late-Night Marketing Stunt

In a bold and unexpected marketing move, IKEA Canada has launched a campaign targeting night owls and sleepless social media users. Between 10 PM and 5 AM, IKEA sent cheeky direct messages (DMs) on Instagram with the classic late-night phrase: "u up?"

But instead of just making small talk, the brand had a purpose, helping Canadians sleep better. Those who responded to the message received a 15% discount on IKEA mattresses, while a lucky few even got a free mattress.

This campaign, created in collaboration with Rethink, is part of IKEA’s broader strategy to promote better sleep habits while engaging customers in a fun and interactive way.

IKEA’s “U Up?” Campaign: The Details

  • The campaign ran between 10 PM and 5 AM, aiming to connect with people scrolling late at night - a sign they might not be getting enough rest.
  • Instagram users received a direct message (DM) from IKEA Canada, opening with "u up?" - a phrase often associated with casual late-night chats.
  • Those who engaged with the message were rewarded with a 15% discount on mattresses. Some were even gifted a mattress for free.
Ikea slid into Canadians' DMs with a playful "u up?" message
Source: Instagram

Beyond this creative marketing push, IKEA Canada has also been making strategic financial moves to maintain its position as a leader in home furnishings.

IKEA Canada has consistently demonstrated a commitment to affordability and customer engagement through innovative marketing strategies. In fiscal year 2024, the company reported annual sales of $2.87 billion, reflecting a slight decrease of 1.4% compared to the previous year.

However, instead of scaling back, IKEA doubled down on affordability, reducing prices on over 1,500 products, including popular items like the STRANDMON Armchair and BILLY Bookcase. This initiative aligns with the brand’s mission of making home essentials accessible while maintaining high engagement with customers.

These affordability efforts further reinforce why the “U Up?” campaign is more than just a fun gimmick - it’s part of a larger strategy to attract, engage, and retain customers while promoting better sleep and comfort.

Why This Campaign Works: IKEA’s Clever Strategy

IKEA has a reputation for creative, outside-the-box marketing, and this campaign is another example of its ability to blend humor, social engagement, and product promotion.

Here’s why this campaign is a success:

  • It plays on relatable internet culture – The phrase "u up?" is instantly recognizable to social media users.
  • It engages customers directly – IKEA’s use of DMs feels personal and interactive, making customers feel like part of an inside joke.
  • It ties humor to real product benefits – Instead of just being funny, the campaign also promotes better sleep and mattress sales.
  • It creates a viral effect – People are more likely to share a campaign when it’s funny, unexpected, and rewarding.

This approach allows IKEA to stay relevant to younger audiences while reinforcing its position as a home and lifestyle brand focused on comfort and well-being.

Consumer Reactions & Industry Response

The campaign quickly gained traction online, with social media users sharing screenshots of their DM interactions with IKEA. Many praised the humor and creativity behind the campaign, with some even joking that they "fell for IKEA’s smooth talk."

Beyond consumers, the campaign has also been well-received by marketing experts, who see it as a brilliant mix of humor, personalization, and brand storytelling.

Jacqueline Wark, IKEA Canada's Director of Marketing Communications, explained the company’s intent behind the campaign:

“We’re passionate about helping Canadians curate each and every room in their homes, and we especially want to help them get the good night’s rest that they deserve.”

This quote reinforces IKEA’s mission to improve home living, making the campaign feel genuine rather than just a gimmick.

What’s Next? Could This Become a Global Trend?

Given the massive engagement IKEA’s campaign received in Canada, it raises the question: Could IKEA expand this concept globally?

  • The campaign’s success suggests that similar interactive social media strategies could work in other markets.
  • IKEA might extend the campaign beyond mattresses, offering discounts on other sleep-related products like pillows, duvets, and blackout curtains.
  • Other brands could follow suit, adopting playful, conversational marketing tactics to engage customers in unexpected ways.

If anything, this campaign proves that marketing doesn’t always have to be serious, sometimes, all it takes is a well-timed “u up?” to grab attention.

At the end of the day, IKEA has done what few brands successfully achiev - ,it turned a simple DM into a conversation starter, a sales driver, and a viral sensation.

This article is based on publicly available reports and company statements.

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