IKEA Stock
The affordable furnishings giant, Swedish based IKEA, is slowly invading the U.S. with its’ trademark yellow and blue stores. With plans to open five new stores each year, IKEA is changing the way Americans shop for furniture. With the continued upward swing in success, IKEA has the eyes of investors closely watching and waiting. Originally founded by Ingvar Kamprad with the first store opening its’ doors in Sweden in 1958, IKEA now spans more than 200 stores in over 30 different countries. Even with this growth, IKEA hasn’t lost touch with customers. IKEA is prized with producing eye-catching, functional furniture at affordable prices that would even fit in a first time home owners’ or apartment dwellers’ budget. Their focus is always on the customer, not only delivering furniture that the customer wants but also for the price that the customer is willing to pay. In fact, their philosophy is to work from the ground up. They decide on an item that is needed, determine how much the customer is willing to pay, then figure out how to make it sleekly designed, very functional, and quality sound, and still make a profit. Part of the cost savings is based on the self service atmosphere of the store. Sounds like a lot of work but pays off as it makes an attractive combination that makes it fun to shop at IKE
A: So why is it then that IKEA is not traded publicly? Keeping the IKEA concept at heart, they only have to answer to themselves and to their customers. They do what has proven to work and sidestep the questions of would be shareholders. Why go public if you don’t have to? Expanding at their own pace, much slower than most companies would in America, but they are destined to have as great a presence in the U.S. as they do in their homeland of Sweden. The privately held company offers up no future plans of an Initial Public Offering. Investors are waiting in the wings, but for now, they will have to purchase
A: If you have ever stepped foot inside an IKEA store, browsed their catalog, or surfed their website you will instantly see why they are so appealing. The price is right for what you get but the quality is not sacrificed. IKEA offers up everything from complete bedroom suites, kitchen cabinets, business furniture solutions, storage and entertainment centers, to mattresses, floor and window coverings, to dishes, bed and bath linens. The stores themselves are eye candy, provide a family environment complete with child care, and be sure not to miss the world famous meatballs from their own restaurant!