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What Is Value Or Image Is The Biggest Reason For Ikea 's Success Essay

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IKEA, is known around the world for its stylist low cost furnishings. However, developing and maintaining relationships in the U.S. market is paramount to its continued success. This assignment, will discuss whether value or image is the biggest reason for IKEA’s success. Additionally, I will discuss which is more important to it maintaining and developing relationships in the U.S. market. Notably, IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad, started the business in 1943, as a mail-order business. However, in 1948 Ingvar started exploring making furniture, in 1951 IKEA’s first catalog was published. Moreover, in 1953 the first showroom opens, by 1955 IKEA is designing its own furniture. Additionally, in 1958 the first brick and mortar store opens in Sweden. Consequently, from the late 50’s to early 60’s Ingvar accomplished some successes and losses. Nevertheless, by the 1970’s the first IKEA store opened outside of Sweden, in the 80’s Ingvar realized he needed to plan for international expansion. Therefore, according to IKEA.com (n.d.), Ingvar separated the ownership of the retail operation from the ownership of the concept and the IKEA brand – to keep these separate roles in independent business groups, operating under a franchise system. Furthermore, Ingvar Kamprad thus donated a large number of the operating companies to a Dutch Foundation, the INGKA Foundation, which today owns many of the IKEA franchisees. Consequently, the franchise business model, with both franchisees owned by the

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