1926 – Ingvar arrives
IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad is born at the maternity ward “Vita Korset” in Älmhult in Småland, southern Sweden.1933 – An entrepreneur right out of the mould
Even as a young boy, Ingvar knows he wants to develop a business. He takes his first step to becoming a businessman at age 5 when he decides to sell matches. From there he moves on to selling Christmas cards, seeds and pens to neighbours on his bike.1943 – The first IKEA company is founded
To reward him for doing well in school, Ingvar’s father gives him a small sum of money. The 17-year-old Ingvar uses to set up a company that he will run for the rest of his life.
IKEA is named after the initials of founder Ingvar Kamprad from Elmtaryd, the farm on which he grew up, and Agunnaryd, the nearby village.
1948 – Furniture is introduced into the range
IKEA introduces the dark brown RIGA dining table in varnished birch and other furniture to the range.
1950 – The IKEA Catalogue makes its debut
The first annual IKEA home furnishing catalogue is published in Sweden. It is the first annual publication to promote IKEA home furnishing products.
1953 – The first showroom opens
A permanent showroom opens in Älmhult. Here customers can see and experience the quality of the products before ordering them, and Ingvar can meet customers in person and learn from them.1953 – Say Hi to the flat pack
High costs and damage rates when transporting furniture via mail order were a constant thorn in Ingvar’s side. So he introduced flat packing, the method that saves space and cut costs. The first piece of furniture sold in a flat package was a LÖVET side table.
1960 – The first Swedish restaurant opens
In June 1960, only coffee and cold dishes are offered in IKEA stores. By the end of the year, the IKEA restaurant kitchen is fully equipped, including a microwave oven – a novelty at the time. Everything from hot snacks such as hamburgers to á la carte dishes are served. The idea comes from something Ingvar observes: people leave the store at lunchtime to eat in one of the restaurants or street kitchens in Älmhult. He realises it’s tough to do business on an empty stomach.
1965 – The flagship IKEA store opens
The Kungens Kurva store outside of Stockholm opens its doors. It’s the largest furniture store in Northern Europe at the time, and the store’s design is inspired by the Guggenheim museum in New York. Its location is strategic — it’s easy to reach by car and has plenty of parking spaces.
1970 – The “miracle” fire that changes everything
An electrical fault causes a sign on the roof of the flagship IKEA store to catch fire in September 1970, causing a lot of damage. It isn’t all bad news though. It is also the beginning of something new. In the chaos following the fire, we open a self-service area, which turns out to be a roaring success. By the time the store re-opens in 1971, most products can be picked up in the self-service area, driven home and assembled by our customers.1973 – Hej Europe!
The first IKEA store outside of Scandinavia is established in Spreitenbach, Switzerland, soon followed by stores in Germany.
1976 – Ingvar puts pen to paper
30 years after his business is born, Ingvar Kamprad writes “The Testament of a Furniture Dealer” with its 9 points. This is where many of his ideas are first written down, including the IKEA vision: to create a better everyday life for the many people.Early ‘80s – A new franchise system is created
In the early 1980s - with IKEA stores in 20 countries and expanding - IKEA founder, Ingvar Kamprad, realized he needed to protect the unique IKEA Concept as part of the company’s growth. He wanted total independence and a long-term ownership structure, so the stock market wasn’t an option. So, the IKEA franchise system was established.1995 – Democratic Design is launched
The term “Democratic Design” is used for the first time during the furniture fair in Milan in 1995. “I’ll never forget the feeling of seeing that statement on the billboards and trams of Milan during the fair. I sat outside drinking Campari and watching the trams go past bearing the words `Il design democratico – IKEA´”, explains Per Hahn, an archivist at the IKEA Museum in Älmhult.
1998 – “Sow a seed” launches
In 1983, a forest fire destroys 18,500 hectares of rainforest in Malaysian Borneo. When Ingvar Kamprad, hears about it he wants to contribute to the rainforest’s regeneration. So, in 1998, we begin financing the “Sow a seed” project, leading to more than 12,500 hectares of rainforest being replanted.2015 – All-in with LED
As of September 2015, halogen and energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs are no longer available and the switch is made to light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for all lighting sold globally.
