Who is IKEA? Biz Inspiration!
Ok -- who has never checked out an IKEA store?
Hopefully, this post may give you some insights of what it takes to grow a business over time and the success that comes with just keeping productive to the extent that the money is actually following you! ... You don't have to keep searching for it! ... so this story is pretty much about the growth and development of IKEA ...
Do share, where was one of the first places you'd go visit if you ever needed anything for home?
The acronym IKEA stands for Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd (the now mega-Swedish home furnishings retailer; derived from the founder's initials and hometown) equals IKEA.
Business quote du jour from Ingvar:
“The most dangerous poison is the feeling of achievement. The antidote is to every evening think what can be done better tomorrow.” — Ingvar Kamprad, founder of IKEA .
Hey, let that statement sink in for a moment ! ... when we feel full, do we eat some more to being totally stuffed? ...
I think Ingvar meant that we need to keep going forward non-stop ... what do you think he meant with his statement? ....
One of the most fascinating aspects of this man while getting acquainted with the business side of the company -- is he lived his values of quality, heritage, knowing the market, instilling customer loyalty, and ensuring sustainability in sourcing of products. Those are major factors in combination for a winning business.
IKEA has retained its private intricate corporate structure and is run by a trust called INGKA Holdings, headquarter in Delft, Holland. The family company was founded in 1943 of the last century in Sweden and also headquartered in Holland.
It started off as a mail-order business and eventually grew to the point of growth when the first bricks 'n mortar store opened in 1958 in Sweden, then, in 1963 in Norway, and stores followed with Denmark in 1969. Today, it is now comprised of some 313 retail stores doing business in over 38 countries around the world,
Basically, it's an all-in-one type of store with savings in do-it-yourself (DIY), affordable, ready-to-assemble shelves, tables, desks, cupboards, beds, home decor & furnishings, and every household good conceivable!
IKEA has been the world's largest furniture retailer since 2008 and has retained this lead to present day. The largest market is situated in Germany with 44 stores and the U.S. has 37 stores. The estimated revenues are approximately $41 Billion USD per annum.
The founder passed when he reached 91 years young in his home at Smaland, Sweden on January 27, 2018, just last year. His net worth of $58.7 Billion made him the 8th richest person in the world! His wealth was accumulated by producing affordable furniture for the people that came in the IKEA flat packs that made for easier assembly once transported at home.
These 'flat packs' were considered revolutionary in design! In addition to his business practice of providing superb customer service was that he also carried the value of frugality.
Yes, he was known to be a frugal person! ....
He considered waste immoral and he was known to snafu the little salt & pepper packets with him from restaurants .... and so that's really how he accumulated his billions ... lol ...
just kiddin' here!... well not really, as apparently it was well known he did this ...
do you think this is true? ....
Anyway, as a foodie, this is certainly of note, that the Kamprad family likes to retain repeat customer patronage and satisfaction through food service! ...
Ingvar's family still oversees the food service in most of the retail stores with typical fare such as: Swedish meatballs, cream sauces, and lingonberry jams, along with breakfasts.
I like this story because of the values this man upheld throughout all those years of being in business, a huge big successful business that he couldn't believe that it had become so big because he was too busy being productive each day of his life!
So there we have --- let's continue to work on our websites, and continue being productive in building out fresh, quality content on a regular basis.....
We'll be way too busy to worry too much about the money --- the lesson learned is we don't need to chase the money ...
.... do what we are truly interested to the degree that we are kept so busy each and every waking day that by the time we look up --
..... the money has followed us in return and the next thing you know, YOU are already a multi - MILLIONAIRE! ....
Keep well, keep happy!
Hope you found this story of interest as it relates to the success ingredients in the making of a multi-billionaire! .... YOU, too can be One! ....
All the best in this amazing journey .... cheerio ..... :)
Thanks kindly for taking the time to enjoy this blog post today ....
and of course, your 'liKes' and interesting comments are always welcomed! ...... :)
Recent Comments
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I always like a good success story !
My secret to putting ikea furniture together is, I put the picture beside all the pieces and try to copy the picture if I run into problems I refer back to the instructions.
I was watching the history channel a few years ago and the vikings stopped pillaging and raping and killing when they found out that the people who were trading goods were making more money than all there raids.
So the Vikings made a deal with the traders and agreed to protect their trade routes if they would sell there stuff !
I always tell people that's how ikea started ha ha and the Swedish name for sawdust mixed with glue covered with melamine or arborite is ikea ha ha .
I don't like the fragility of ikea furniture but they have some interesting designs and their sink drains are great they are one piece so no leaks but I don't think their furniture will become antiques ha ha !
Their prices are very good on some electrical switches way cheaper than home depot depending on what your buying and they attract a young clientele,
They have a good return policy and their food is quite good and the store is very clean.
They must have done something right look how successful they have been !
Yes, agree -- IKEA is a Super Success STory!
thanks kindly for your sharing -- very much appreciated!
keep well, keep happy! ... :)
Good Morning Keisha,
The Ikea story is amazing. They also sell some nice Swedish goodies in their store which you cannot buy anywhere else, like cookies, jams, etc.
I do not go shopping there anymore as I got irritated once. I went to look for something and when I did not find what I wanted I tried to find the exit. You cannot go out you first have to follow the arrows leading you past tempting things, it takes ages before you can leave. This is a clever strategy but I do not like it.
We are on a little trip in Cabo de Gata, lovely weather but windy, hope to find stones and fossils today.
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
hi Taetske!
Yes, admit did get lost a few times like you in the Store -- guess that's one of their 'improvements' to keep the customer in the store to see everything! .... shop, shop, shop 'til u drop! ... lol ...
hey, enjoy a beautiful trip to Cabo de Gata -- sounds lovely!
keep well, keep happy!
all the best as usual, cheerio ... :)
Wow! Loved reading about the man behind the $$’s. Integrity is No 1 on my list. I see it all over this post. Love “taking care of business and the money follows “. Encouraging and inspiring post..THANK YOU! Cheers AJ
hey hi Jill !
yes, I found Ingvar's story so-o fascinating that I felt compelled to share it with you all .... he just kept going each and every day, then each evening, he'd review what he accomplished and then do it better the next day .... and life must have gone fast for him as when he finally lifted his head up from his work, he discovered that he became a multi-billionaire ... and apparently he still couldn't quite believe or grasp this achievement at the end of the day ... he simply enjoyed and loved what he was doing ... helping others furnish their homes in beauty, comfort and ease ....
love his story! ... and that he lived his 'values!' .... simple as that!
keep well, keep happy, cheerio ... :)
hey hi Nidhi -- appreciate you popping by to enjoy a good read and a wee visit here ...
love this man's Success story!
all the best to you, cheerio .. :)
You know what I have never been in IKEA store, never have, never will. The reason why is because of the hassle of flat packs.
Here in the UK IKEA has a poor reputation. ' The meatballs are good, but the furniture is rubbish (I won't use the more colourful expression)'
I find the person behind IKEA more inspirational, and it is good to learn from what they say.
Everything you do can be done better. That's my motto
Great article
Thanks for sharing
Antonio
hey hi Antonio!
Super share -- appreciate you popping by with your most interesting observations!
Yes, the founder was such a fascinating character of 'better' each and every day that led to his amazing Success that resulted in him being a multi-billionaire before even he knew it! ... he just kept at it, doing what what he loved productively, improving by taking the 'better' part from what he reviewed the evening before ... awesome story! ...
thanks kindly -- enjoyed our wee visit & chat here ...
all the best to you for every Success .... cheerio ... :)
p.s. by the way, forgot to mention -- ya, agree about those flat packs -- cumbersome however they figured it out as a 'better' way to transport & easy-to-self-assemble furniture ...
and guess what? ... i still have a set of two drawers that are still intact (from a number of moves) and in great shape! ... so they do have super products! ... if i recall correctly, just needed an L-wrench to put it all together -- I think maybe the L-wrench came with the lil' packet of screws 'n such .... lol ....
Chase all the other aspects of life but not the money. If you do enough of the right things, the money will appear all by itself. I do believe that to be true.
hey hi Fran -- yes, Ingvar led a fascinating, most enterprising life who also lived his 'values!' ... love his story of Success! ....
do what you love and the money follows >> no need to seek or chase it ... that's the difference ...
that's right, he kept himself so highly productive day in and day out that when he did have the luxury of poking his head up to check the state of the world >> he discovered he'd become a multi-billionaire and apparently he couldn't truly grasp this idea even to the end ...
keep well, keep happy >> do what you love,Fran!
all the best, cheerio ... :)
hey hi Jimmy!
Wonderful to see you here!
As for following Ingvar -- he's transitioned to hopefully a way better place! ... isn't his story amazing?! ...
keep well, keep happy!
all the best, cheerio ... :)
yes, he was a very enterprising person .... he simply kept himself going onward each and every day ... and every evening he would take stock of what went on that day and vow to do better the next day ... step-by-by, yes, on a daily basis ... and that's pretty much his journey of how he got to where he got to .... an awesome quality person who by incident became a multi-billionaire along the way ... he himself was amazed at this at the end of the day as he confided with one of his top assistants ...
so every evening Jimmy -- review your day's events, figure out of simply doing one thing (at least) better the next day ...
how does that sound to you? ... cheerio ... :)
What a disciplined life, I know I cannot manage my time efficiently because I get easily bored in office work. How could the possibility that a person like me can become even just a millionaire when I'm already old and it's really a daunting task to have this life of blogging? hahaha.
Great Blog! I live near an IKEA store located in Burbank, CA and learned so much more from you. It’s like a furniture candy store and then some!
hey hi Edwin!
geez -- thanks for the compliment of 'great blog!' super to hear this as it's encouraging -- your support here -- your kind, generous words of praise are very much appreciated!
glad that you enjoyed the read as i found Ingvar's story so fascinating that i wanted to share it --- there's so much to learn and what does 'success' truly mean anyway ...
yes, IKEA sure has come a long way, the founder couldn't believe of how big it became either! ... bless him! ...
i like that 'furniture candy store!' -- good one, Edwin!
thanks so much for dropping to enjoy a wee visit & chat together,
all the best, cheerio .... :)
I've worked quite a few years in the travel and tourism industry. At one point I worked at a hotel located in a small suburb that had an IKEA store. I was amazed at the amount of people that would come from out-of-state to stay at this hotel just to go to the IKEA store. The only reason for their trip. That says something about IKEA.
hey hi Mickey -- our very own famous WA scam-busting chops buddy! ...
how r u doing?
yes, back to IKEA -- the story is so fascinating, i had to share it .... it's quite incredible what Ingvar built in his lifetime ... lots of lessons on success there! .... what i love about it is, he lived his values ...
appreciate you popping by to enjoy a lil' visit & chat and hope you've recuperated ok from all that 'scam-busting' ... it sure helped to make the clean-up a lot faster than the previous episode ..
keep well, keep happy! .... thanks kindly & cheerio ... :)
Hey scam busting buddy. I'm just going through my WA emails like I do every evening.
It is a fascinating story. I like how he said, Every evening think what can be done better tomorrow.
*** yes, we can learn so much more from those who have gone before us ..... love his story! .... and having been such an enterprising person, he achieved it by 'better' every day! ...
so you, too, by reviewing things each evening, how can it be better tomorrow? ... and then take action on the 'better' ... and that's what he did .... he was so busy each day and evening being productive with his head down -- that when he did take the luxury of looking up for a second >> WoW! ... I'm a multi-billionaire! ...
we can all learn from that .... cheerio .... Ms. Billionaire! ... :)
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Hi Keisha, loved to hear about the man behind the plan. He found a niche and in that he bought value to the masses. Like anything there are different levels of products from cheap to expensive. I've never had a problem with Ikea. Just have to follow the instructions, not eveyone does but won't admit it.
My sons room is fully kitted out with it and it looks great.
I like meatballs too, well the Quorn ones anyway.
Have a wonderful day, the suns out here, bright and beautiful. Be well.
Ooo, just spotted, is this your 100th post ? Yay you, fantastic.
Wonderful -- we enjoy the same things! ... i really enjoyed Ingvar's fascinating story and that he lived his 'values!' ... a person who walked the talk so to speak ... we can all learn a good tidbit or two from all whom have gone before us ...
and yes, IKEA is still going strong -- sustainability is one of the company values ... 'no waste!' ...
this is my 101th post .... hey u didn't miss the 100th post party last weekend now did u?! ... lol ...
enjoy it All !
keep well, keep happy, cheerio .... :)
As I read this post I looked across and saw 100 as it didn't include this one. My bad.
My humblest apologies. How remiss of me. Not only did I congratulate you I was at the party. I think I may have had one to many Daiquiri Sherbets....
it's all ok, Twack ! .... too-o much bubbliee-ee-e! ... 🥂🍾 ... !
there's a song, 'Don't worry, Be Happy!' ...
we have another party coming Up -- this coming Friday for Jay ... if you can attend, please kindly do give him a 'shout-out' for his 12th WAnniversary here!
cheerio ... :)