IKEA: The Business And Environment Analysis Of Ikea

This paper aims to demonstrate a detailed description of the elements of ‘IKEA’ company based on its famous name in the furniture industry.

IKEA is a privately held, international company that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture such as beds, chairs, desks, appliances and home accessories. The company is the world's largest furniture retailer.

The success of the industry was the huge experiences in the product differentiation, cost leadership and retail market. IKEA unique concept is that furniture is sold in kits that are assembled by the customers at home. The company remains one of the world most successful multinational retailing firms, operating globally. This report will explains IKEA internal and external environment using PESTLE, PORTER FIVE FORCE AND SWOT. Furthermore IKEA globalisation and localisation strategy breakdown will be examined, CSR and ethic and recommendation will be also examined.

IKEA is the world’s largest furniture store that offers well-designed, functional home furnishing products at low prices. The store offers home furnishings to meet the needs of everyone. The company vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people. Ikea is able to back their vision with their products and prices.

IKEA is a multinational group of companies that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture (such as beds, chairs and desks), appliances, small motor vehicles and home accessories. As of January 2008, it is the world's largest furniture retailer. The company is known for its modern architectural designs for various types of appliances and furniture, and its interior design work is often associated with an eco-friendly simplicity.

IKEA is one of the largest multinational companies in the world dealing with several products. The company sells and designs furniture appliances and home accessories at an affordable price. Ikea has over three hundred stores worldwide enjoying the good name it has created for itself. While they are one of the most profitable furniture companies in the world there are significant challenges and threats that have been overcome and are still needed to be tackled.

IKEA is the world’s largest retailer of home furnishings. It strives to provide simple, functional, modern, and useful products at affordable prices to as many people as possible in as many places regardless of their geographical location. IKEA concept is implemented from the start of idea, implemented into the design, manufacture, logistics, sales and final assembly of each product. IKEA was developed by Ingvar Kamprad from southern Sweden, where people are known for surviving and making the most from limited resources.

At IKEA we design the price tag first and then build up the product to suit that value. IKEA product developers and designers work openly with suppliers to make sure that creating the low prices starts on the factory ground. They contemplate maximizing production tools, using raw equipments proficiently and applying mechanical innovations and the best potential design. It is all about making the most of our production process, keeping waste to a complete least and considering flat-pack transportation and self-assembly. IKEA of Sweden in Älmhult, Sweden, develops the total IKEA range.

In this business report on the global retail business IKEA, it will cover the nature of business, influences on operations, operation processes, operation strategies and how the business can sustain competitive advantage. IKEA was founded in 1943 by Ingvar Kamprad in Älmhult, Sweden. The business established after and with the money his father awarded him for succeeding in his studies, Kamprad sustained a cash inflow by selling pens, wallets, watches, picture frames, table runners, jewellery and nylon stockings at reduced prices to customers. Although, later on in 1958, IKEA was introduced as a leader of Swedish Furniture Company as they started to produce local furniture by the Swedish local manufacturers, which gained positive attention from their customers. Eventually, developing flat packs of furniture for storage and self assembly, making their signature style of IKEA and turning the small business into a global sensation.

IKEA is the largest furniture chain in the world, and in 2011 the Swedish company operated over 270 stores in 25 countries. In 2011 IKEA sales soared to over $35 billion, or over 20% of the global furniture market. Most of its stuffs believed IKEA will massive growth throughout the world in the coming decade because IKEA could provide what customer wanted: good design, and good made contemporary furniture with an affordable price. In one word, IKEA’s global approach focuses on simplicity, attention to detail, cost consciousness, and responsiveness in every aspect of its operations and behavior. (Jones, 2013)

The IKEA group sells quality furniture at a low price, to maintain a strong competitor. For that, the company has to try to cut cost without losing quality in the products that it sells.

The history of the company is very colorful and interesting. IKEA was founded in 1943 in the south of Sweden in Smaland. Its founder was seventeen - Ingvar Kamprad. The boy had a great deal of business, and IKEA was not his first venture. Previously, he was selling matches in his hometown. His capital for the establishment of IKEA comes from his father, who rewarded him for good academic performance. He called his company IKEA from the first letters of his name, and the names of the family farm and the village Agunnaryd Elmtaryd. The company initially dealt with the sale of feathers, frames, wallets, tablecloths, watches, jewelry, stockings and fine furniture. Kamprad to transport their goods, borrowed a truck from the local milkman.

Ikea's mission is to offer a wide range of home furnishing items of good design and function, excellent quality and durability, at prices so low that as many people as possible can afford to buy them (www.ikea.com)

So let’s start with political environment. Political environment may mean some kind of regulation or legal issue made by the government. Fair-trade and minimum wage will be a good example. For IKEA, we can see any significant impact from the political environment.

IKEA was founded in Sweden by Ingvar Kamprad in 1943. IKEA has been established around the world in 26 different countries. Within these countries IKEA has a total of 303 stores. This business is effective in adapting to change through the use of the four key business functions; operations, finance, marketing, and human resources.