The Swedish Chamber of Commerce 50th Anniversary
Life Time Achievement Award
To Mr. Ingvar Kamprad, Founder of IKEA
Ingvar Kamprad turned vision into mission and innovation into reality when he founded
IKEA, now among the world's largest brands. The Swedish Chamber of Commerce for
the Netherlands is very pleased to announce that Mr. Ingvar Kamprad receives the
Swedish Chamber of Commerce 50th Anniversary Lifetime Achievement Award in
recognition of his efforts “to create a better everyday life for the many people” for his
humane approach of doing business, for his untiring search for new, better and
environmental friendly solutions and for serving as a role model for entrepreneurs and
workers all over the world. He created an amazing corporation based on an even more
impressive business concept, and he still lives it.
“Ingvar Kamprad, born March 30, 1926 is an entrepreneur from the Småland province in
southern Sweden, who had an innovative idea. In Småland, although the soil is thin and
poor, the people have a reputation for working hard, living carefully and making the most
out of limited resources. So when Ingvar Kamprad started his furniture business in the
late 1940s, he applied the lessons he learned in Småland to the home furnishings market
and IKEA. His innovative idea was to offer home furnishing products of good function
and design at prices much lower than competitors by using simple cost-cutting solutions
that did not affect the quality of products. Ingvar used every opportunity to reduce costs,
and he scraped and saved in every way possible - except on ideas and quality.”
In 1958 IKEA Group opened its first IKEA Store in Älmhult. In 1973, the first IKEA
Store outside Scandinavia was opened in Zurich and in 1975 the first IKEA Storestores
opened in the Netherlands. Today there are more than 300 IKEA stores on four
continents.
Kamprad's vision has been the driving force behind the success. The self-service store
design and ease of assembly of their furniture are not merely cost controls, but an
opportunity for self-sufficiency. IKEA Brand name has now become known worldwide
for its innovative and stylish designs. Almost all IKEA products are designed for flat
packaging, which reduces shipping costs, minimizes transport damage, increases store
inventory capacity, and makes it easier for customers to take the furniture home
themselves, rather than needing delivery. But above all, the components put together
make a different for the environment.
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the Netherlands is proud to honor Mr. Ingvar
Kamprad, one of the worlds leading entrepreneurs. With great respect we honour him for
what he has achieved in a life time. It is outstanding to reach as far as Mr. Ingvar
Kamprad has done in a lifetime and even more remarkable to stay committed to the
lifestyle and principles that enable the company to stay its course, sixty years after it was
founded on a farm in the Smaland region of Sweden."
We honor him for his humane approach to doing business, for his untiring search for new
and better solutions, and for serving as a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs and
workers all over the world."
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce 50th Anniversary Life Achievement Award is
presented by The Swedish Chamber of Commerce for the Netherlands in connection with
the 50th Anniversary of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce.
Amsterdam, 28 October 2010
Håkan Emsgård
Nils van Dijkman
H.E Ambassador of Sweden
Honorary Chairman of
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce
Chairman of the Swedish
Chamber of Commerce