Commentary: Founder of Ikea revolutionized retail
Few people can claim to have genuinely revolutionized retail. Ingvar Kamprad did.
When he founded it, Ikea was markedly different to anything that had existed in retail. Much of this difference was down to Ingvar's Swedish heritage and instincts.
He believed that home furnishings should be democratic; that people of all income levels should be able to afford to decorate and furnish their homes stylishly and comfortably. He also believed in thrift, efficiency and hard work.
Putting these two concepts together, gave rise to the revolutionary idea of flat-pack furniture. Distributing flat-pack was much more efficient and economical than shipping fully made items. It also divided the effort – prices were lower because the customer had to assemble the product; that was the trade-off or compromise.
Consumers embraced his ideas. It is no exaggeration to say that his innovative approach changed not just the furniture sector, but the way people decorated and led their lives at home.
In his lifetime, Ikea grew from very humble beginnings to the world’s largest furniture retailer. And the reach of Ikea globally means that hundreds of millions of people around the globe have been touched by Ingvar's principles.
Ingvar Kamprad is arguably one of Sweden's most successful ambassador and exporter of its culture. That is his legacy.
When he founded it, Ikea was markedly different to anything that had existed in retail. Much of this difference was down to Ingvar's Swedish heritage and instincts.
He believed that home furnishings should be democratic; that people of all income levels should be able to afford to decorate and furnish their homes stylishly and comfortably. He also believed in thrift, efficiency and hard work.
Putting these two concepts together, gave rise to the revolutionary idea of flat-pack furniture. Distributing flat-pack was much more efficient and economical than shipping fully made items. It also divided the effort – prices were lower because the customer had to assemble the product; that was the trade-off or compromise.
Consumers embraced his ideas. It is no exaggeration to say that his innovative approach changed not just the furniture sector, but the way people decorated and led their lives at home.
In his lifetime, Ikea grew from very humble beginnings to the world’s largest furniture retailer. And the reach of Ikea globally means that hundreds of millions of people around the globe have been touched by Ingvar's principles.
Ingvar Kamprad is arguably one of Sweden's most successful ambassador and exporter of its culture. That is his legacy.