This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ingvar-kamprad-dead-ikea-founder-dies-died-age-sweden-business-a8181886.html
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Ikea founder dead: Ingvar Kamprad dies aged 91 | Ikea founder dead: Ingvar Kamprad dies aged 91 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The founder of Swedish furniture firm Ikea, Ingvar Kamprad, has died at the age of 91, the company has said. | The founder of Swedish furniture firm Ikea, Ingvar Kamprad, has died at the age of 91, the company has said. |
| Mr Kamprad died peacefully at his home in Småland, southern Sweden, Ikea said in a statement. | Mr Kamprad died peacefully at his home in Småland, southern Sweden, Ikea said in a statement. |
| The company described him as “one of the greatest entrepreneurs of the 20th century”. | The company described him as “one of the greatest entrepreneurs of the 20th century”. |
| “He will be much missed and warmly remembered by his family and IKEA staff all around the world,” it added. | “He will be much missed and warmly remembered by his family and IKEA staff all around the world,” it added. |
| Mr Kamprad began Ikea when he was 17 years old, selling watches and Christmas cards from his garden shed. | Mr Kamprad began Ikea when he was 17 years old, selling watches and Christmas cards from his garden shed. |
| But his company only became popular in 1956, when it pioneered flat-pack furniture, which is lauded for helping democratise good, modern home design. | But his company only became popular in 1956, when it pioneered flat-pack furniture, which is lauded for helping democratise good, modern home design. |
| The business magnate got the idea while watching an employee taking legs off a table to fit it into a customer’s car. | The business magnate got the idea while watching an employee taking legs off a table to fit it into a customer’s car. |
| Ikea’s business model is now based on huge production runs of identical stock, which allows it to export Scandinavian style at an affordable price | Ikea’s business model is now based on huge production runs of identical stock, which allows it to export Scandinavian style at an affordable price |
| In 1987, after becoming well-established in Germany, France, Japan and Australia, Ikea arrived in the UK. Its quickly became popular with Brits and its products have become ubiquitous. | In 1987, after becoming well-established in Germany, France, Japan and Australia, Ikea arrived in the UK. Its quickly became popular with Brits and its products have become ubiquitous. |
| Mr Kamprad eventually became one of Europe’s richest men and he lived for several decades in Switzerland, where he moved in the 1970s to avoid Sweden’s high tax rate. | |
| But he moved back to Sweden in 2013 after the death of his wife Margareta. The same year, he also stepped down from the board of a key company within the business that owns the brand and directs strategy. His youngest son took over as its chairman. | But he moved back to Sweden in 2013 after the death of his wife Margareta. The same year, he also stepped down from the board of a key company within the business that owns the brand and directs strategy. His youngest son took over as its chairman. |
| The Kamprad family still controls the complex corporate structure that forms the Ikea chain. | The Kamprad family still controls the complex corporate structure that forms the Ikea chain. |
| More follows… | More follows… |