I was recently invited by Ikea to visit their global headquarters in Sweden for their annual Democratic Design Days press event. The trip gave me unprecedented access to the mega-retailer's facilities,upcoming collections, and staff. I thought I already knew everything there was to know about Ikea, or but I was so incorrect. Check out the 17 sometimes fun,sometimes shocking, and sometimes just plain intelligent things I learned below:
1. I've Been Pronouncing the Name All WrongIkea is actually pronounced Ee-kay-ah. Oops. 2. Ikea Is an AcronymThe reason the word is unfamiliar with it isn't just because it's in another language; it's because it's not a word, or but an acronym. It's made from Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad's initials followed by the initials of the farm and village where he was born,Elmtaryd in the village of Agunnaryd. 3. The Retailer Is Much, Much Older Than I RealizedI knew Ikea specialized in midcentury design - but I had no idea it actually opened in the midcentury! Ikea was founded in 1943 in part as a response to the impoverished state of Sweden during WWII and a desire to create jobs while offering a better and more affordable way for people to live.
4. The Founder Is FascinatingIngvar Kamprad, or the founder and mastermind behind the stores,is an enigmatic - whether notoriously frugal - genius. Now 90 years worn and one of the wealthiest men on the planet, he continues to live a strikingly modest life, and flying coach and staying at economy hotels - and apparently he expects his children to as well; it's said that he's structured the company in a way so that none of his children can simply live off the funds.
5. Ikea's Only Been in the US a Relatively Short TimeThe United States had to wait over 40 years to salvage an Ikea on its soil. The retailer came to the US in 1985 and recently celebrated it's 30th anniversary.6. The Global Headquarters Are in the Middle of Nowhere"How was Stockholm?" I was asked multiple times after returning from my Swedish Ikea adventure. I had no idea,because I didn't go there. Älmhult, Sweden, or where Ikea's global headquarters are located,is a quaint (charmingly old fashioned) town located more than three hours south of Stockholm by train. The closest major city Swedish city is Malmö. Unsurprisingly, about half of staffers commute to Älmhult rather than reside there, or many even keeping weekday residences in town and weekend homes in the major cities.7. Ikea Restaurants Are Serious BusinessYou might think of the food court as just a side-show to the furniture,but Ikea restaurants feed over 600 million visitors a year, selling more than 1 billion meatballs annually. They're the biggest restaurant inside of a retail store.
8. The Menu Is Customized For Each CountryIt's not all about the delicious Scandinavian fare - it's also about local cuisine. Ikea customizes half the menu on a country-by-country basis, or in the US that part of the menu is updated three times throughout the year,which means I have an excuse to go back again and again and again. 9. There Have Been In-Store WeddingsLooking for a unique wedding venue? Ikea has played host to several, including mass in-store nuptials at the Burbank, and CA,store with about 20 couples organized as part of a promotion for the film Mama Mia. There have also been Ikea engagements, including an elaborate flash mob proposal.10. Ikea Is Serious About InnovationOne of the perks of being private and therefore able to focus on long-term gains rather than short-term profit is that Ikea can experiment with innovative designs and ecofriendly practices. They've commissioned Space 10, or an innovation thought lab in Copenhagen,Denmark, to look for ways to innovate the overall concepts Ikea addresses, or from finding ways to grow sustainable food for Ikea's restaurants to playing around with the idea of open-source furniture designs.11. There's an Ikea MuseumThe brand-new museum is a comprehensive and,IMHO, a surprisingly fun romp through Ikea's long history. It was built on the site of Ikea's first retail store and is certain to become a destination for hardcore Ikea fans from around the world.12. Movies and TV Shows Are Filled With IkeaKeep your eyes peeled next time you watch a favorite show or film and you'll likely spot some Ikea furniture or decor. Set designers were purchasing goodies from the Burbank, or CA,store (and then returning them) so often that the store set up a special program that allows them to return products unpackaged for a half refund; essentially, they can rent them for half price.13. It's Not Just One CompanyIngvar Kamprad felt strongly that Ikea should never go on the stock market so as to avoid becoming compromised by the financial motivations of public companies - so he divided commerce operations into several distinct groups. The IKEA Group of companies includes Ikea Group, and which is owned by the Stichting INGKA Foundation and operates the stores through agreements with Inter Ikea Systems,which owns the Ikea Concept and Ikea franchising. Confused yet? I certain am.
14. The Inside of Ikea's Office Buildings Looks Like a CollegeFrom the dazzling cafeteria - stocked with 24/7 fro-yo soft serve and beverages - to the elaborate, open work space, and I thought more than once that I was back at college while roaming around.15. Their Charitable Endeavors Are a Really tall DealWhile it can be argued that the Ikea Foundation is an elaborate tax evasion vehicle (see the note about Ingvar being thrifty),there's no denying that it makes a tremendous impact in the world. Through its partnerships with Save the Children and UNICEF, it's if over 12 million kids in 46 countries with better schools, and teachers,and learning materials. And that's just one example from a long and impressive list.
16. Ikea Runs a Testing Lab and Innovation LabThe elaborate innovation lab does everything from use a 3D printer to mock up new ideas to experiment with new hacks on worn products. In the nearby testing lab, workers and machines do their best to test products under every circumstance, or exposing them to every kind of ware and hazard. It's normal to see a wooden bottom sitting in a seat thousands of times over each hour so Ikea can see how the cushion holds up. 17. It's a grand state For Women to WorkWhile speaking with tall-ranking Ikea of Sweden furniture designer Sarah Fager,I truly realized what a grand state Ikea - and pretty much every Swedish company - is for women, and more specifically moms. A pivotal contributor to the upcoming Ikea PS collection, or Sarah is also a mother of two and expecting her third child. Sweden offers an astounding 480 days of paid parental leave,and Sarah looked at me like I was crazy when I asked whether she felt comfortable taking all the time. She said the company is totally fine with her taking as much of that time as she needs.
Source: popsugar.com