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
As explained in the “bargaining power of consumers”, it is hard to substitute the products that are offered by IKEA. This is further intensified by the fact that IKEA has formed a brand perception that makes it stand out amongst its
The rapidly growth in sales of IKEA in its own country thanks to its innovative new concept in furniture and its reinforcement with polish suppliers, during the 1950s and 1960s, gave to IKEA the option to consider in going further of Swedish borders. Thus, in 1963 was opened the first Store in Oslo capital of Norway. This first step was a guideline to continue the expansion process IKEA has started, and helped to strengthen the internal market in Sweden with the opening of the biggest store in Stockholm in 1965, and the second international store in Denmark in 1969.
”The IKEA Concept starts with the idea of providing a range of home furnishing products that are affordable to the many people, not just the few.” *http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_GB/this-is-ikea/the-ikea-concept/index.html
IKEA-products are extremely popular, there are very few people that never heard about the yellow-blue brand. Moreover, it will (even) be hard to find people that have no products from IKEA in their houses. This makes us wonder: “Why is IKEA so successful?” We will analyze IKEA’s marketing department to answer this question. We think IKEA’s marketing strategies are very unique and therefore an important factor causing IKEA’s success. Our main belief was that IKEA is a company with a great proficiency in pricing. However, after some readings about the company we discovered all the 4p’s of the marketing mix are very well developed and still very innovative. IKEA’s marketing strategies are based on its democratic design statement; “Democratic design brings good design to the many
Extensions are usually introduced as they have more advantages and these can be transferred to a new product, with the same attributes but in a different form.
With further global expansion, in order to maintain profitability it was crucial for IKEA to establish the main potential customer group, who would not only appreciate the product concept but will be able to afford it and recognise it as being a "good-value”. The IKEA concept proved to be successful in the developed countries and free trading markets, but the same acceptance can’t be anticipated in the countries with large variations in exchange rates, high inflation and/or high import tax and other restrictions, e.g. bureaucratic obstacles in Russia and China.
In 1951, to reduce product returns, he opened a display store in nearby Älmhult village to allow customers to inspect products before buying. It was an immediate success, with customers traveling seven hours from the capital Stockholm by train to visit. Based on the store’s success, IKEA stopped accepting mail orders. Later Kamprad reflected, “The basis of the modern IKEA concept was created [at this time] and in principle it still applies. First and foremost, we use a catalog to tempt people to visit an exhibition, which today is our store. . . . Then, catalog in hand, customers can see simple interiors for themselves, touch the furniture they want to buy and then write out an order.”2 As Kamprad developed and refined his furniture retailing business model he became increasingly frustrated with the way a tightly knit cartel of furniture manufacturers controlled the Swedish industry to keep prices high. He began to view the situation not just as a business opportunity but also as an unacceptable social problem that he wanted to correct. Foreshadowing a vision for IKEA that would later be articulated as “creating a better life for the many people,” he wrote: “A disproportionately large part of all resources is used to satisfy a small part of the population. . . . IKEA’s aim is to change this situation. We shall offer a wide range of home furnishing items of good design and function at prices so low that the majority of
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, which is a famous furniture company in Swedish has dominated in furnishing market for many years. Its success delis on its strategies in large part. This report is trying to analyze IKEA’s strategies on the basis of related literature.
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
We believe what is good for society is good for IKEA. We are passionate about creating a successful business where we act in a responsible way through small and large actions. It is a way of being. This is why sustainability is a cornerstone in the IKEA strategic direction – it is highly prioritized and serves as a driver of further innovation and development. Economizing with resource, finding new ways of doing things and developing our knowledge and expertise are important parts of our business idea and heritage. A low price company must be a low cost company, and this includes being careful with earth’s limited resources. IKEA has unique capabilities and tremendous enthusiasm to make a positive contribution across the world – from the forests of Siberia to the cotton fields of India and all the way into people’s homes in New York, Lisbon and Shanghai. Our customers rightly expect us to not only to make our products in a responsible way, but also to help them live more sustainable
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)
In the present 21st century, the pressure of market competition has increased significantly. Under this environment, customer loyalty is the focus of both management practice and marketing practice of modern enterprises. It is the key for enterprises to get trust from customers and retain existing customers with the capability to deliver added value for customers.
IKEA’s strategy before the mishaps in America could be characterized as going against the norm charting their own path to success using low priced manufactures to secure lower selling prices aimed to target those who were of older age and of middle class standing. Their new strategy was to target those of a younger demographic, young married couples, college students, and 20-30 something singles. By reemphasizing design, promoting through hip quirky advertisements, and encouraging consumers to do away with their old furniture, IKEA revenues doubled in a four-year period. IKEA today has adapted somewhat of a local customization strategy where their store layouts will resemble that of many local household layouts as proven by their success in China where they failed to expand beforehand. They also keep their prices extremely low in some areas as China by sourcing a large percentage of products in the area of operation.
The company starts when Ingvar Kamprad from Sweden and when he was really child only with 17 years old, he started selling matches and later on added ballpoints in his product list. He used to have a curious