The INSANE Truth About IKEA

Hey legends. For those asking about my YouTube course: I’m sorry, I know the timeline for this has been crazy. 😅 I’ll be explaining everything in a few weeks, but I’ve been working hard on it and I promise we are finally close. If you’re interested, join the waitlist: magnatesmedia.com/ Anyway, IKEA is a really interesting (and unusual) business so I hope you enjoy the story. As always, a huge thank you for all your support. You guys are the best. 🙏 🎞 Stock footage & music from Storyblocks: www.storyblocks.com/magnates 🖥 Video editing software used: magnates.media/editing

A few years ago I got an private tour of the first IKEA and the IKEA headquarters in Älmhult, Sweden, when i was there I was taught the history of IKEA from an senior furniture designer, and well, this video is probably the closest description of how he described it, good job! You earned yourself an meatball eating Swedish subscriber!

I once interviewed for Ikea. It was not your regular job interview. It was much more fun. We formed teams and had to build an Ikea display from cardboard and then present it. At the end of it we all got free icecream 😂 Even though I didn’t get the job, I didn’t have any bad feelings for the company thanks to the icecream and thanks to how fun it was to interview for them in contrast to all the other interviews that I was going to at the time.

I grew up in the tiny city with like 8000 inhabitants where the first IKEA was made (Älmhult) and the day Ingvar died was the weirdest day ever, felt like the king of Sweden had died or something

In 1986 I bought from a neighbour who was moving out 5 Billy book cases (mahogany colour, no longer available) which they had purchased in our local Ikea store in Germany. These book cases have since moved house with me a staggering 9 times, including emigrating from Germany to Ireland in 2009. Now that there’s an Ikea store in Dublin (3 hours drive from my home), I might just get some doors for the book cases. In black, since the lovely reddish mahogany colour isn’t available any more. 38 years with me, 9 times moving house, and still going strong and much loved. That’s Ikea quality 😊❤

When I'm watching these kinds of videos,as a video editor, I always try to observe each and every single one editing trick you are using, then realising how much time these kinds of videos take to make, not only the immersive and well thought out editing, but also the research, the script. Well done, keep making these documentaries, will always be happy to watch them!

One reason he became so rich is that he owned a subsidiary company, Ikea Design, which owned all the design rights and that company received 3% of the sales price which went straight into his pocket. If you look closely on the name tag there's always this name on the tag.

We have been programed to believe we need expensive stuff when in reality, we don't. There is something really rewarding and refreshing about living a simple life. There's more time for family and actually enjoying your life. I just hate I didn't realize this until I was in my 40's and it has been an amazing shift!

Expensive vs. Cheap. I hear that many carpenters don't like, or even right out hate IKEA for taking their business. But they also have to realise that many people buying furniture from IKEA aren't their likely customers anyway. I see myself here. I need a new desk, but I can't afford a €3000 desk. Not with my salary. When I look around I can find some sub €3000 desks from independent carpenters, but they're not that cheap. I then look at IKEA and immediately find a desk that suits my needs for around €200. I wonder... are there any carpenters out there taking on this price? Ah, I hear the crows yelling "Quality over price". Here's the kicker: That IKEA desk for €200 is good enough quality for my needs. I'm not putting a zoo and a circus on it. Just a few computer accessories. I don't need it to be of solid rare wood. I don't need it to be covered by ultrium-hard ceramic paint. I'm not a carpenter's customer. I'm an IKEA customer. They're not the same.

Well- my wife and I once went to imea to "look and eat some meat balls" and went home with a credit of almost 5k and furniture and other stuff for almost the whole appartement. Nothing we didn't need anyway but that day we juuuust wanted to look.

Has anyone ever gotten lost in an IKEA? I did once, when I tried to take a shortcut and ended up back at the beginning!

The greatest part of IKEA products coming in parts you have to assemble, is the many ways to Hack IKEA items to fully customize using parts. It's like LEGO.

Ikea is the embodiment of 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger'

Im from Älmhult where IKEA is considered to be founded (first physical IKEA store) and Ive worked for IKEA in Älmhult as well. I did learn some new stuff about IKEA so good work on the research! Would be interesting though to hear a bit more about recent stuff, IKEA has made a lot of changes in modern time. It used to be considered a very good employer that treated the employees very well, not so much now. That I would love to hear a deep dive on. Anyway, thanks for a good video :)

I've been to my local IKEA over 40 times, and to this date, I have not bought any item of any sort. The only reason I go to IKEA is to eat. The cafeteria section at IKEA is nice, and cheaper than fast food. I like IKEA because the tables were you eat give you a semi dinning experience while still being cheap.

Ikea makes you "overspend" on furniture for sure but they have options that are of cheaper quality but you can actually afford them. We can't buy furniture the way our parents and grandparents did anymore, value for money with quality materials doesn't exist anymore. Furniture has an insane premium on prices now.

Now this is a true businessman, despite all the challenges, he always bounced back

I’m glad that “ you’re back “ brother. Big love from Mozambique.

I am leaving this comment here so that after some hours, days, weeks, months or years when someone likes or comment on it, I will be reminded to watch this video again

You don't get it, do you? There is no exit. You are doomed to wander for eternity. To your left, the tables and chairs. To your right, the beds and sofas. You may keep walking or you may stop, but you cannot escape. The forest of metal and cardboard is infinite and every corner you turn looks familiar. Eventually, you go mad and you will start rambling incoherent noises. That's when they get you. They'll record your mumbling and use it to name their new products. This was always the master plan.