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IKEA

2024/11/18
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This chapter explores the early entrepreneurial ventures of Ingvar Kamprad, IKEA's founder, starting from selling matchboxes as a child to establishing IKEA.
  • Ingvar Kamprad started his entrepreneurial journey at the age of five by selling matchboxes.
  • At the age of 12, Kamprad took a bank loan to expand his business, marking the only capital IKEA ever raised.
  • IKEA grew from selling small goods to becoming the world's largest furniture retailer without any external financing.

Shownotes Transcript

IKEA may be the most singular company we’ve ever studied on Acquired. They’re a globally scaled, $50B annual revenue company with no direct competitors — yet have only ~5% market share. They’re one of the largest retailers in the world — yet sell only their own products. They generate a few billion in free cash flow every year — yet have no shareholders. And oh yeah, they also sell hot dogs cheaper than Costco! (Sort of.)

Tune in for an episode flat-packed with counterintuitive lessons about how this folksy mail order business from the Swedish countryside came into your living rooms (and bedrooms and dining rooms and kitchens and bathrooms and patios and garages and backyards) all over the globe!

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‍Note: Acquired hosts and guests may hold assets discussed in this episode. This podcast is not investment advice, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. You should do your own research and make your own independent decisions when considering any financial transactions.