IKEA history at Epinions?
The company has faced a number of scathing criticisms, including an environmental crisis in the late 80s which led to a 'green' revolution within the company, which now prides itself on innovative manufacturing processes which minimize the environmental impact the blue-and-yellow giant has. Equally concerning was the founder's connection to Per Engdahl, the notorious Nazi sympathizer. I suppose those blonde-haired-blue-eyed Aryan types all band together, but I was still shocked at the torrid underbelly of the friendly furniture chain. However, I can much more easily stomach the management of the modern IKEA chain, which is owned by the charitable, Netherland-based Stichting Ingka Foundation. What a convenient excuse for unfettered consumerism -- it's all for charity!
Epinions.com review of IKEA: Welcome to Teutonic Design Supremacy World.
Comments
Hi
It would be nice if you can inform me about the name IKEA. What includes the four letters? Why
was chosen these a.s.o.
Thanks very much
Greetings & Bye
Rob Spijkers
The Netherlands
Posted by: Rob Spijkers | December 25, 2003 10:46 AM
I and K are the initials of company founder Ingvar Kamrad, E and A are for two towns in Sweden, Elmtaryd and Agunnaryd, where he spent his youth.
I wrote the lease for the first IKEA store on the West Coast and was invited to tour the construction site. We got IKEA hardhats and afterwards they gave us gift boxes with those really hard crackers and lingonberry jam. I couldn't wait until that store opened, and when it did, I bought assloads of loathesome white laminate office furniture, some of which I still have, unfortunately.
I don't care much for Swedish food, although this time of year they drink something called Glögg, an effective social lubricant involving mulled wine. Helan gar!
Posted by: earl s. stoner, esq. | December 25, 2003 12:02 PM
The Washington Post published a bit on Glogg last week: Scandinavian Gloggfest.
Posted by: sudama | December 25, 2003 3:00 PM
Can you give me any more information on Ingvar Kamrad?
Posted by: ALex | March 24, 2004 7:56 AM
I heard that IKEA was started after a deal was struck with the swedish government to supply cheap prison labour and that in return these inmates would recieve a technical training that would stand to them and help them reintegrate into society. Is this true?
Posted by: Damien byrne | September 12, 2007 10:25 PM