IKEA | About IKEA

The IKEA Way

IKEA offers a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them. This is the idea at the heart of everything IKEA does, from product development and purchases to how we sell our products in IKEA stores globally.

Anybody can make a good-quality product for a high price, or a poor-quality product for a low price. But to make good products at low prices, you need to develop methods that are both cost-effective and innovative. This has been IKEA's focus since its beginnings in Småland, Sweden. Maximising the use of raw materials and production adaptation to meet people's needs and preferences has meant that our costs are low. The IKEA way of doing things is to pass these cost savings on to you, our customers.

Our vision and business idea

At IKEA, our vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people. Our business idea supports this vision by offering a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them.

Facts & figures

The IKEA Group, one of the largest IKEA franchisees, has grown into a major retail experience. With more than 231 stores in 24 countries and over 118,000 co-workers in 40 countries, the IKEA Group has annual sales worth more than 19 billion euros.

Our responsibility

Low prices are the cornerstone of the IKEA vision and our business idea - but not at any price. At IKEA, we believe that taking responsibility for people and the environment is a prerequisite for doing good business. Read more about our work, projects and partnerships.

Press room

This section provides members of the media with the latest news from the IKEA Group. You will also find contact numbers for IKEA's national press contacts, as well as other services.

IKEA history

The IKEA story began in 1943 in the small village of Agunnaryd in Sweden, when founder Ingvar Kamprad was just 17. The following history shows how, over six decades, IKEA went from the woods of southern Sweden to being a major retail experience in 44 countries/territories around the world.