IKEA is among the UK’s dearest brands, with its furniture and ornaments decorating a great number of places, such as:
But the question arises: How much information do you have about this brand?
You must be aware that IKEA was founded in Sweden, but do you even know that its headquarters are located in the Netherlands nowadays? While the brand is interchangeable with “flat-pack furniture,” you would be amazed to know that their first piece of flat-pack furniture was not sold before 1956.
There is significantly more to IKEA than what is shown, and a few facts regarding the company may amaze you. We have collected some of this captivating trivia so that the next time you are relishing some meatballs at an IKEA restaurant, you can impress your relatives and buddies with your latest knowledge.
The following are the different interesting facts regarding IKEA:
IKEA’s story began in 1943 in Småland, Sweden, as a minor mail-order company. With a vision to improve lives, it offered quality goods at “by far the lowest prices in the land.” Back then, customers received their purchases directly through the mail.
At just 17, Ingvar Kamprad founded IKEA using money his father gave him as a reward for doing well in school. He began by selling pens and wallets, later expanding to furniture five years on. Ingvar’s frugal approach ensured low costs, making quality products affordable for everyone.
During the 1950s, IKEA designer Gillis Lundgren showed up with a novel concept. After struggling to fit a table into his car, he removed its legs, giving birth to flatpack furniture. This concept reduced transport costs, lowered damages, and made IKEA’s prices even more accessible.
In 1958, IKEA opened its first store in Älmhult, Sweden, the town which was the birthplace of Kamprad. Currently, Älmhult is home to the IKEA Museum, glorifying the brand’s exceptional journey from modest beginnings to an international presence with a large number of stores.
The name “IKEA” reflects personal and local pride. It merges Ingvar Kamprad’s initials, his family farm (Elmtaryd), and his local place of worship (Agunnaryd). From the beginning, the name emphasised IKEA’s roots despite the fact that it was only a mail-order business.
Before its stores existed, IKEA launched its catalogue in 1950, allowing customers to browse furniture ideas. Published annually for 70 years, it became a household staple before its final edition in 2020. Today, fans can still explore IKEA’s brochures online.
In 1953, Ingvar Kamprad decided to serve customers coffee and biscuits. Nearly 1,000 biscuits were eaten, proving that a little food could make shopping more enjoyable. By 1958, a small coffee corner was added, which soon became a customer favourite.
By 1960, IKEA’s coffee corner expanded into the “IKEA Baren,” serving not just coffee but also hot meals like chicken. Using a U.S.-imported Radar oven, IKEA provided fresh dishes, reflecting Kamprad’s focus on innovation and customer care. Today, IKEA’s restaurants—celebrated for Swedish meatballs—are an important part of the purchasing expedition.
Ingvar Kamprad lived a remarkable life, taking his last breath at the age of 91 in his beloved Småland. He left part of his property to his kids, Peter, Jonas, Mathias, and Annika, and devoted the rest to the development of Norrland. Ingvar’s vision was to aid the younger generation in Norrland in flourishing without leaving to search for opportunities elsewhere.
IKEA’s progress from a minor mail-order service to a celebrated international figure is noteworthy. Currently, it is one of the world’s major furniture brands, well-liked in the U.S., U.K., and other parts of the world. Millions visit its stores yearly, drawn by affordability and innovation. Kamprad’s inventive use of materials and effective procedures enabled IKEA to keep prices low and clients pleased.
IKEA made its entry into the U.S. market in 1985, opening its initial store in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. The store attracted 150,000 weekly visitors and became an instant success. A year later, another store opened in Woodbridge, Virginia. Since then, IKEA has established dozens of stores across America.
IKEA’s product names are as unique as its designs. Each item is named after Swedish islands, Norwegian locations, animals, or boys’ names. This wasn’t just clever marketing—it helped Ingvar Kamprad, who had dyslexia, remember them easily. This simple yet effective system became a hallmark of the brand.
Apart from the above-mentioned facts, many other interesting facts about IKEA exhibit its international impact and creative ideas. From unconventional product names to its dedication to viability, IKEA’s story continues to excite millions of people around the world. Let’s find out some more fascinating facts about this iconic brand!
13. IKEA recruits about 150,000 individuals, graciously called co-workers by the company creator.
14. A normal IKEA store at present covers 32,000 square meters, a striking contrast to the first Almhult store in Southern Sweden, which covered only 6,700 square meters.
15. In 2012, more than 212 million copies of the IKEA catalogue were printed, greatly outperforming the 100 million copies of the Bible printed during the mentioned period. These catalogues were accessible in 29 different languages.
16. In spite of the fact that IKEA has not a single store in Africa or South America, there are 287 stores in 26 countries. Plans are in progress to initiate a place in Cairo, Egypt.
17. In 2011, IKEA distributed about 50 million Allen keys and 2.5 billion wooden dowels to assemble its flatpack furniture.
18. About 85% of IKEA products are same across stores all over the world.
19. When IKEA initially entered the U.S. market, clients reprocessed small flower vases as drinking tumblers.
20. IKEA furniture names have unusual origins: Swedish women’s names are utilised for curtains, Swedish islands influence garden furniture, men’s names are allocated to chairs, and Swedish places are utilised for upholstered furniture. Few product names that didn’t cut include “Bugga,” “Prick,” and “Dick.”
21. The Billy bookcase is IKEA’s highly sought-after product, with 503,441 units sold.
22. Prior to founding IKEA in 1943, Ingvar Kamprad sold various goods, from matchbooks to nylon stockings, cigarette lighters, and fountain pens.
23. After Kamprad noticed hungry clients leaving without buying anything, IKEA introduced food to its stores. Since 1987, British clients have single-handedly consumed 1.2 billion hot dogs and 11.6 billion Swedish meatballs.
24. IKEA’s pre-tax earnings evolved from £3.27 billion to £3.76 billion in the initial eight months of 2011.
25. The company distributed about 60 million hinges in 2011.
26. IKEA furniture uses between 800 and 1,000 different types of screws.
27. The MALM bedroom furniture line, which consists of beds and chests of drawers, is one of IKEA’s most sought-after and highest-selling collections.
Can anyone even imagine in the wildest of their dreams that one of the world’s biggest stores has such an unbelievable story?
Whether you are a regular buyer of IKEA or are going to visit for the first time, you now have more information regarding this interesting brand.
If you visit IKEA in the future, you will tentatively notice the impact of its incredible history. And if you want to impress those who will be present with you at that moment, do not hesitate to mention one of the above interesting tidbits in the conversation as you shop with relatives and buddies!
There is a misconception that flat pack furniture does not require any tools to assemble. Although they are ready to
IKEA is among the UK’s dearest brands, with its furniture and ornaments decorating a great number of places, such as:
The popularity of “DIY furniture assembly” has increased substantially in the domain of household furnishings. Individuals are progressively drawn to
Indulge in the luxury of seamless furniture assembly and disassembly services with seasoned professionals.
