Where does IKEA get its name?

Search: ikea

Why: We have been there 3 times in the last week, and now Chandler is looking for the big blue bags we got to carry the laundry. Is it always capitals? Can you say "Ikea"?

Answer: It's an acronym!

Ingvar
Kamprad
Elmtaryd
Agunnaryd

Ingvar Kamprad is the founder, Elmtaryd is the name of the farm where he grew up, and Agunnaryd is his home parish in Småland, South Sweden.

Source: Wikipedia

The More You Know: Kamprad founded IKEA when he was only 17!

At an early age, he learned that he could buy matches in bulk from Stockholm and sell them at a fair price, but a good profit. He reinvested his profits and expanded to fish, seeds, Christmas tree decorations, and pens and pencils. At age 17, Kamprad's father gave him a nice reward for doing well in school. What did he spend it on? He founded IKEA.

He continued to expand his business to a variety of goods, including wallets, watches, jewelery and stockings. When he outgrew his ability to call on his customers individually, he converted to a sort of makeshift mail order operation, hiring the local milk van to make his deliveries.

In 1947, Kamprad introduced furniture into the IKEA product line. The use of local manufacturers allowed him to keep his costs down. The furniture was a hit, and in 1951, Kamprad decided to discontinue all other product lines and focus on furniture. In 1953, the first IKEA showroom opened.

Also, he attended some pro-Nazi fascist meetings in his teens, but he's since called it "The Greatest Mistake of My Life," so let's not beat him up about it.

I wonder how much that chair is.