When I first stepped into the maze that is IKEA
almost 6 years ago, I had no idea what to expect. I had
never even heard of IKEA and now almost 80 percent of my
home is comprised of IKEA labeled products. It started
out as a little crush, with easy on the eyes price tags,
now a full-blown marriage. I am sure you have been
there. IKEA is not a one hit wonder.
IKEA’s name is as inventive as its flat pack
furniture. IKEA are the initials of the original
founders’ name, Ingvar Kamprad. Kamprad grew up on a
farm in South Sweden called Elmtaryd, comprising the E.
Elmtaryd is in the town of Agunnaryd, completing the
initials with the final A. IKEA began in Sweden and now
encompasses 36 countries with over 278 chain stores that
operate largely like franchises.
Bjorn Bailey and Anders Berglund were co-owners
of the IKEA in Renton, the only one in Washington State,
until 2007. They retired and returned the store to the
control of the IKEA holding company. According to Laurie
Helm, the IKEA Renton’s new store manager, little has
changed since then. “We miss them, their personalities.
But the concepts and IKEA culture remain the same,” she
said during a recent telephone interview. Helm notes
that the Renton location of IKEA is a bit different from
those you might see in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago
and even the European store locations she has visited in
Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands. “Our store and
warehouse are actually an old Boeing building. So the
layout does not resemble the traditional IKEA store,”
she explained, “In Europe, the IKEA name is more
household and people are so familiar with the products
and how to shop the store. There is definitely a long
history in Europe with IKEA.”
Despite the history in Europe, IKEA has some
bragging rights stateside, as well. IKEA is a global
movement that can now be seen in Turkey, Italy and
Israel. It has gotten plenty of air play and was touted
as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For according
to Forbes Magazine. Helm feels this is the best business
opportunity she has ever been given. “Here we have no
hierarchy. No job is more important than the other. This
mentality allows it to feel more like a team,” she said.
IKEA, not unlike other powerhouse companies, has
had its fair share of lawsuits, complaints and negative
media attention. When IKEA opened its first store in
Netanya, Israel, Israeli media questioned Kamprad’s
active membership to the pro-Nazi party
New Swedish Movement called Nysvenska Rörelsen in
Swedish. Kamprad declared his Nazi activities as a youth
as his “biggest mistake.” IKEA has also been called
“imperialist” and “anti-British,” because one ad
insinuated British people were uptight because of their
furniture. It has also progressively been one of the
first companies to use gay couples and a transgendered
woman in its advertisement campaigns. It currently bans
plastic bags and is on the “Green” bandwagon, providing
recycling receptacles and reusable cutlery in the
restaurant.
But why does Swedish furniture translate so well
in places like the U.S or Turkey? “It is clean and
simple, multifunctional. A little bit of something to
appeal to each country. It is modern, Scandinavian.
Plus, houses are getting smaller. IKEA furniture
construction is efficient with use of space,” said Helm.
I think that IKEA furniture allows a bit of
European simplicity and style for every size home. Plus,
much of it is lightweight, easily built and there are
more options of funky colors that many U.S companies
don’t offer, unless for children’s rooms. European
furniture and fashion has always pushed the envelope.
Now going to IKEA six years later, I know how to
shop the store and have discovered that some less
expensive items, if not carefully cared for, will get
beat up and flimsy. If you have a nice amount to spend,
you can come out looking like you went to Sweden for
your furniture. I prefer the Beddinge Sofa-Bed in
Sandvik green and the bedsheets and pillow choices
according to how you sleep.
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