Strengths And Swot Analysis: SWOT Analysis Of IKEA

IKEA’s social responsibility and sustainability is continuing to grow and progress according to Chief Sustainability Officer, Steve Howard. IKEA wants their business to have a positive impact on the world so they have implemented a strategy called the People & Planet Positive strategy which focuses on 3 areas (IKEA Group, 2014). The first area of focus is to get customers on board with living a more sustainable life at home

In order to assess and give recommendations to IKEA, it is important to fully understand the operations and the values that drive the company, ant its philosophy. Since was founded in 1954 by Ingvar Kamprad the Swedish company’s vision of “creating a better life for the many people” inspired them to develop high quality and lower cost products in the furniture business, and almost a decade later, after they consolidate in the Swedish market, they made the decision to expand abroad opening stores in Northway and Denmark respectively (Exhibit 1). With a relatively rapid expansion the company needed to transmit their unique philosophy and created the testament of a furniture Dealer and trained ambassadors to help spread and secure the firm’s values (Exhibit 3). Furthermore, IKEA’s adopted another principle, the company preferred to focus on establish close ties with business partners and supporting their suppliers in a long-term relationship rather than just

In IKEA’s history two different modes of entry were used. Both were met with big success and allowed IKEA to enter new markets very easily, and in a secure way.

IKEA is rumored to be a very standardized retailer, i.e., a certain set of marketing strategies is used that are the same around the world. This indeed sets IKEA, operating on markets in Europe, US as well as Asia and Australia, apart among international retailers. Often the theoretical conclusions in international

In this report I will be examining Ikea in the Chinese market. First I will carry out an analysis of the company using Porter 5 Forces and SWOT frameworks. After this I will highlight the key issues of IKEA in China, which I will discuss market entry of IKEA in China. Finally, I will discuss my recommendations for IKEA in the Chinese market. Appendix and references therein.

Highly competitive market brings IKEA weaknesses such as magnitude of the global business that is or isn’t capable of managing stakeholders, product differentiation, suppliers’ issues of not abiding by IKEA Group Code (IWAY code) in to limelight. Other weaknesses of IKEA i.e. ineffective communication and information exchange with its consumers and stakeholders due to huge scale of business operations are also identified (Johansson et al., 2008).

IKEA’s strategy mainly depends on its wide range of products that followed clear and detailed guidelines on range, quality, profile and price. The IKEA catalogue, which is distributed to homes in the area of IKEA stores all over the world at the end of August each year, is the main marketing tool in order to educate customers about the product line and help marketing communication to build relationship and inspire people to come to the stores. (UK essays, 2013)

Ikea claims to have a responsible approach towards the external environment, by supporting a wide range of activities such as improving health and education by providing vaccinations programmes where it has business and utilizing resources wisely in order to protect the environment. (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/)

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, one of the world’s top furniture retailers, has emerged as the fastest-growing furniture retailer in the US. Its unique business strategy has given it its strengths for its success today. However, like all strategies, IKEA’s strategy has its own flaws that can pose as weaknesses. IKEA also has a lot of opportunities in the marketplace such as expansions of their company and threats such as competitors in the same industry.

IKEA has “learn[ed] from its failures and buil[t] on its successes, [providing] affordable, well-designed, functional furniture to the masses” (Hill & Jones, 2012, p. C96). Incessant learning, adapting, and modifying is necessary in the highly competitive retail market in which the company rests. In order to continue “helping [its customers] achieve a better everyday life” (Hill & Jones, 2012, p. C96), the company has to take a toll of its external opportunities and threats, as well as its internal strengths and weaknesses.

Even though there have been many changes in the economy Ikea has been able to regulate the changes with their success in obtaining the lowest production prices. The company continues to provide high quality furniture that goes with their original concept of stylish furniture for a low price. Ikea offers all kinds of products that cater to most any lifestyle and budget. Ikea still mostly operates their business in the European market. Consequently, they are able to reach more customers in different countries based on the location of their production and distribution centers. Even with the many changes to the economy Ikea has managed to stay in business with their low pricing by developing different products that is in demand by

* Guiding customers to a more sustainable life through proper channels is important to control social threat as people would be more aware of what to spend on and what not to.

At the outset, it may be useful to characterise IKEA in terms of the characteristics of demand (also known as the four Vs, see Slack et al. p 20). First, IKEA is clearly a high volume operation – as indeed most international retailers are – which lends to systematising operations but which implies capital intensive processes and therefore cost considerations will be crucial. Second, IKEA offers a large number of products (up to 14000 depending on the country/store) so there is high variety in the

The main purpose of this report is to analyze the IKEA Company. To do this the internal and external factors are going to be discussed, and analyzed using the DESTEP method and the 7s model.