One of the largest companies in Sweden is 75 years old

IKEA store in Älmhult at the end of the 50s. Photo: IKEA

IKEA is now a no-brainer in the next Swedish house. The concept of buying cheap furniture that you build together has become a success. Behind the idea was the entrepreneur Ingvar Kamprad and the success story around IKEA is his merit.

He started as a small mail order business in Älmhult, surrounded by a teenager by bike. Over the years, the product line has grown from fish, matches and ink pens to pure home décor. IKEA is currently in 49 countries with 419 department stores.

Every year, IKEA has nearly one billion visitors in IKEA department stores and over 2.5 billion online visits and is the largest furniture company in the world.

The first department store was opened in 1958

Ingvar Kamprad founded IKEA at the age of 17. And that's after Father Feodor asked what the son wanted in the end-of-studies presentations that the company did. Ingvars wanted permission from the father to start his own business, which was necessary when it was not official.

In 1958, the first IKEA store in Älmhult was opened after furniture sales stimulated Ingvar in the 1950s. When IKEA opened, customers from all over Sweden came to visit the department store. Two years later, in 1960, the first IKEA restaurant opened its doors. This, according to Ingvar Kamprad, considers that there is a much better experience in the department store if you have a stomach.

In 1973, the first department store outside the Nordic region was opened. Switzerland became the first country and if IKEA became a success, the idea would also work in the rest of Europe and the world. Today, IKEA is present in 49 countries with 419 department stores, and the number 50 is on hold. In August 2018, IKEA opens its first department store in India

Kamprads Dö and IKEA Fill 75

In January 2018, Kamprad must die at age 91, leaving a business empire. For IKEA, it is today one of the most important and most famous brands of Sweden. And you are at the forefront of all time.

Mattias Johansson, sales manager at IKEA Sweden, tells you about 75 years ago to revive some of the most popular products of the past. Only August 9 are products of the 50s and 60s.