This year, Ingvar Kamprad (1926–2018) would have turned 97, while his life’s work, IKEA, is celebrating its 80th anniversary. This is being marked, among other things, by two new exhibitions at the IKEA Museum in Älmhult: ”Hello Ingvar” and ”IKEA Through the Ages.” In addition to the entrepreneur’s focus on the customer and the importance of making smart purchases, IKEA has, over the years, evolved into a skilled and admired company in the fields of supply chain management and logistics.
The exhibition “Hello, Ingvar!” offers an intimate and personal glimpse into Ingvar Kamprad’s life. Through previously unpublished interviews—with former colleagues, IKEA legends, and old friends and acquaintances, among others—visitors will gain a deeper understanding of the man behind the IKEA phenomenon.
“In this exhibition, we’ve chosen to focus on Ingvar Kamprad’s unconventional approach to doing business and leading a company. He was a fearless and engaged leader who always paid attention to the people around him,” says Anna Sandberg Falk, exhibition curator at the IKEA Museum.
At just 17 years old, Kamprad began his remarkable career by selling pencils and matches in Småland. Over the years, he built a global furniture company and an iconic brand that has helped put Sweden on the world map.
A giant in the supply chain and logistics industry
In addition to the entrepreneur’s customer-focused approach and the importance of making smart purchases, IKEA has, over the years, evolved into a skilled and admired company in the fields of supply chain management and logistics. This is reflected, among other things, in everything from the company’s long-standing, profitable supplier relationships, cost focus, and continuous improvements to flat-pack products and extensive control over the entire value chain. Shortly after Kamprad’s passing in 2018, SCE published the article Gthe logistics and supply chain giant – which can be downloaded as a PDF here.
The second new exhibition at the IKEA Museum, ”IKEA ”Through the Ages" takes visitors on a journey through the brand's history. Both exhibitions opened on June 15.
