CEO Hall of Fame Most Respected CEOs & CEO Hall of Fame
Ingvar Kamprad IKEA - Global
King of Furniture (1926-Present)
- Sweden
"How the hell can I ask people who work for me to travel cheaply if I am
traveling in luxury." (Ingvar Kamprad)
"Simplicity is a virtue" (Ingvar Kamprad)
Key Work
Starts IKEA company
Advertises furniture for the first time & publishes first catalog.
Introduces flat packaging and self-service in stores.
Ownership transferred to Dutch Foundation - Stichting INGKA. becomes
multibillion dollar company
Kamprad is a brilliant unorthodox businessman who manage to upset the
odds and outsmart furniture cartel in Sweden and world competition. His
strategy was low prices and good quality through innovations and design
such as flat-pack furniture and self-service. Shopping the IKEA way became
a family day out, a fun experience.
Books & References:
Torekull, Bertil. Leading By Design: The IKEA Story. New York: Harper
Business, 1999.
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