IKEA Marks 80th Years at Museum in Älmhult with New Exhibits

June 26, 2023  by HFBusiness Staff in Business Strategy, Industry   

Since Ingvar Kamprad began his career selling pens and matches in the southern Swedish province of Småland in 1943, IKEA has become one of Sweden’s most successful and iconic brands – with a natural place in homes around the world. To highlight this unique journey, IKEA Museum in Älmhult is being relaunched with two new exhibitions.

IKEA Through the Ages takes visitors on a journey through time and the company’s history – from the 1950s to today. Visitors can discover how IKEA has been transformed as a brand, a center for design and a trendsetter over the past 80 years, and how IKEA has influenced and been influenced by the major trends of the different eras.

According to Mats Nilsson, Exhibition Curator at IKEA Museum, the brand has both shaped and been shaped by Sweden’s history and the contemporary age – something that will form the basis for the content of the exhibition.

"Most people have some kind of relationship to IKEA. Many of us have lived with IKEA furniture, textiles, lamps and other home furnishings since childhood. Portraying a small part of this – as well as the company’s development in good times and bad – has been hugely educational and enjoyable. We hope and believe that most people who visit the exhibitions will see a lot they recognize, as well as a few surprises here and there."

– Mats Nilsson, Exhibition Curator at IKEA Museum

The second exhibition, Hej Ingvar! offers a more intimate, personal glimpse into Ingvar Kamprad’s life. Thanks to previously unpublished interviews – with former employees, IKEA legends and old friends and acquaintances – visitors can gain a more in-depth understanding of the man behind the phenomenon that is IKEA.

“In this exhibition, we chose to focus on Ingvar Kamprad’s resolute and unconventional way of doing business and leading a company. He was a fearless, engaged leader who always saw the people around him. We want to emphasize the personality, creativity and driving force that laid the foundation for the world’s leading furniture store,” says Anna Sandberg Falk, Exhibition Curator at IKEA Museum.

The reopening takes place at IKEA Museum in Älmhult today, 15 June, where visitors can celebrate 80 years of furniture history.

"Eighty years of visionary design and unwavering commitment to create a better everyday life for the many people have shaped IKEA into a global icon, residing in the hearts and homes of people worldwide. As we commemorate this milestone, the new exhibitions at IKEA Museum offer a captivating journey through time, unveiling the transformation of IKEA brand and the remarkable life of our founder Ingvar Kamprad. From our humble beginnings to becoming trendsetters, we have both influenced and been shaped by the world around us. Join us as we celebrate 80 years of shared memories, inspiration, and the enduring legacy of IKEA"

– Belén Frau, Global Communication Manager at Ingka Group (the largest IKEA retailer)

IKEA Museum opened in 2016 and features the exhibition The Story of IKEA – Past, Present & Future. IKEA Museum is located in the original building of the first IKEA store, which opened in 1958 in Älmhult, Sweden. IKEA Museum features a main exhibition divided into four sections: Our Roots, Democratic Design, Hej Ingvar! and IKEA Through the Ages. The museum also includes several temporary exhibitions, as well as a restaurant and a shop.