...Success Factors of IKEA 1 The Key Success Factors of IKEA Advanced English Writing 2 Abstract Taking advantage of three mayor cost-cutting strategies, IKEA has been able to maximize its profit and to succeed internationally with its concept. The self-service and do-it-yourself approach to selling furniture is one of the critical success factors IKEA uses to save costs and increase profit margins. Furthermore, it has a complicated company structure, partially in order to avoid taxes, but also to allow for some flexible management decisions to be made, based on the international needs. The third key success factor that can be held responsible for IKEA’s international triumph is its production and ordering system. The company uses recycled materials and wood alternatives in its mass productions, attracting customers from all kinds of layers of society. IKEA Key success factors International franchise Success Factors of IKEA 3 Table of Contents 1. Table of Contents ..................................................................................... 3 2. Introduction .............................................................................................. 4 3. Discussion ................................................................................................ 4 3.1 The Self-Service Approach ............................................................. 4 3.2 Advantageous Tax Planning and Decentralized Management ........ 5 3...
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...Case Study on IKEA Executive Summary The case study of IKEA has been read, analyzed; and the findings are presented in the report as required. The goal of the report was to analyze the case study of IKEA and then to present the findings as well as performing some tasks that are required in this report. Firstly, some terms that are closely associated with marketing has been described and analyzed. In addition to that, those terms are also discussed in relation with the case study. Brand, Business strategy, retail sector, price sensitive and franchisee are the terms that have been discussed in this report in the first section. In the second section, the required calculation for average number of customers of each sector and average spending of customers has been worked out. A new mission statement for IKEA has also been proposed there along with the justification for the mission statement. In the third section, the importance and nature of SWOT analysis has been discussed and elaborated. It is seen in the case study that IKEA performs a SWOT analysis that supports their process of building strategy. Moreover, the SWOT analysis of IKEA has also been performed and justified. In the fourth section, SMART objectives and some new marketing mix ideas for IKEA has been demonstrated. In the fifth Section, the concept of marketing model and minimizing the threats for IKEA has been included and demonstrated. Ultimately, the report contains what were required...
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...on the other hand affect many things in the world but are uncontrollable. The side of a rock moss grows on to market tastes, political or economic factors are all examples of environmental factors. “Failure to account for these factors can lead to dire consequences” (FAO 1997). Ikea of Sweden markets its products locally and globally with their immense understanding of global marketing. The following paper will discuss the environmental factors and technology impacts on Ikeas marketing decisions. It will also analyze social responsibility and ethics and their importance to Ikeas marketing. Ikea Ikea of Sweden markets “a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them. This is the idea at the heart of everything IKEA does, from product development and purchases to how we sell our products in IKEA stores globally” (Ikea 2008). As the world of international marketing and technology changes, Ikea faces more challenges than ever. With more than 253 Ikea Group stores in 24 countries, the organization is always facing new marketing challenges that are affected by environment. With the economy being in a downturn, Ikea has seized the time for new opportunities for finding more cost-effective ways of running a global organization. This allows for the company to find new ways to provide their consumers with low prices and high quality products that will extend the gap even farther between the...
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...OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT GROUP PROJECT Report on the Operations Management strategy of Xuan Hoa Furniture and IKEA Prepared for Prof. Noel By - Group 7 - Lê Quang Anh Đỗ Thị Hà Anh Vũ Kim Phượng Nguyễn Thị Mỹ Linh Nguyễn Thị Thùy Linh May 22, 2014 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Operational management is line management of organizations that highly affect the company’s performance. It is a business function that organizes, coordinate and control the resources needed to produce a good, operational management is a business process to create highest level of efficiency and value add. Operations management is a dynamic field and presents exciting new issues and challenges for operations managers. This is also a very important coursework for everyone of us who want to become a successful leader in the future. For that reason, after completing a 3-week Operations Management course, we – Group 7 would like to present a report about our findings on the comparison of the operations management strategy between 2 companies on the field of furniture manufacturing and retailer: Xuan Hoa Furniture and IKEA. Our report is divided into 9 main parts, each one represents a strategic Operations Management decision. And every main part will be broken into 2 part: one from Xuan Hoa Furniture and one from IKEA. 1. General Introduction 2. Operations Strategy 3. Product Design 4. Managing Quality 5. Process Strategy 6. Location Strategy 7. Human Resources and Job...
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...Strategies BUS499 Business Admin. Capstone Aug 10, 2012 Strayer University Introduction When a company chooses what type of business or corporate level strategy they want to use, this decision is important because it will set the tone for success or failure. Many companies will hire a manager to determine what type of strategy is best for the corporation. Other companies will already have something in place that just needs improvement. In order for a company to be successful with theses strategies they need to know what kind of competition is out there. A corporation’s competitor can usually dictate what strategy fits the corporation best. Once a corporation has figured out what strategies to use then they can move forward with building a successful firm. 1. Analyze the business-level strategies for the corporation you chose to determine the business-level strategy you think is most important to the long-term success of the firm and whether or not you judge this to be a good choice. Justify your opinion. The company that was chosen to be researched is IKEA. IKEA is a well known furniture retailer. IKEA was founded by Ingvar Kamprad in 1943 (ikea.com). Ingvar, at the age of five began selling matches to the local community. He then found out that he was able to buy matches from Stockholm in bulk at a cheaper price and sell it back at a lower price and still make a good profit. Ingvar’s entrepreneurial style brought him to the furniture business...
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...INTRODUCTION The reason behind choosing the IKEA is because IKEA is one of the world’s most successful retailers. IKEA is a global furniture brand inspired by the egalitarian society of its Swedish heritage and appears to the public to be forever Swedish. It expands its retail stores all over the world including North American, European Middle East and Asian countries but also spreads a kind of its own a highly strong business culture and values with a strong Swedish image to other countries through the establishment of business there. History: IKEA was founded in 1943 in Sweden by Ingvar Kamprad. Kamprad was born in 1926 as the son of a farmer in Småland, a region in southern Sweden. At the age of five Ingvar Kamprad starts selling matches to his nearby neighbors and by the time he is seven, he expands to selling flower seeds, greeting cards, Christmas tree decorations, pencils and ball-point pens. In 1943, at the age of 17, Kamprad became an entrepreneur and created a commercial company called "IKEA." The word IKEA was an acronym of his name and “Ingvar Kamprad” and the address, the name of his farm and village: “Elmtaryd, Agunnaryd”. Company initially sold fish, vegetable seeds, and magazines to customers in his region. Then in 1950 IKEA added furniture and home furnishings to the product line. IKEA entered new markets around the globe in the 1980s. IKEA expands dramatically into new markets such as USA, Italy, France and the UK. Operating Environment: Ikea is the world's...
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...ABSTRACT Distribution logistic plays an important role in international companies or in Multinational Corporation. It is because most company preferred more competence in the complex and global market. Nowadays customers more concern about how long their ordered product reach to them rather than worrying how the company will deliver the products. As a consequence, time can be used as an indicator in distribution logistic. This research is conducted to explain the consequences of distribution logistic and the way IKEA will gain competitive advantage by utilizing it. We will identify the key elements in distribution logistics and find the competitive advantages of IKEA through analyzing the case study of IKEA and they are: speed, dependability and last but not least is flexibility. Keyword: IKEA, Distribution logistic, Competitive advantage. INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND Logistics management is the governance of supply chain functions. Logistics management is important not solely to producing and assembly industries, that are goods-oriented, however conjointly to selling, transport and alternative distribution or service- oriented industries. Daskin (1985) defined logistics as “the design and operation of the physical, managerial and informational systems needed to allow goods to overcome time and space”. Another definition promulgated by the Council of Logistics Management Ballou (1992) is: the process of planning, implementing and controlling the efficient, cost-effective...
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...determines if a company is a specialty store but rather the breadth of their product offering. If a company could be considered an expert in a certain type of good, it is a specialty store. (www.educationportal.com) Company Introduction IKEA is one of the best private furniture based companies in the world which started in a small village of Agunnaryd in Sweden. A company which has the experience of working for more than 6 decades around the globe, which currently is operating in 40 countries around. IKEA is a company which has always focused itself towards creating a better future for the people by producing reliable furniture at a low cost. The basic concept of the company is based on southern Sweden which has thin soil and poor people and they use their hard work to survive. The genius behind the company made sure that all these values were transferred to the company and its core values were designed around the basic inherited values. IKEA is a privately-held, international home products retailer that sells flat pack furniture, accessories, and bathroom and kitchen items in their retail stores around the world. The company, which pioneered flat-pack design furniture at affordable prices, is now the world's largest furniture retailer. IKEA was founded in 1943 by 17-year-old Ingvar...
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...Executive Summary Background IKEA, the world’s largest home furnishings retail chain, was founded in 1943 by a Swedish entrepreneur Ingvar Kamprad. IKEA offers standardized products worldwide that are Scandinavian in design worldwide. The unique idea of this famous brand is to offer the option of assembling products to customers. The design of the furniture is very modern and light as it is made of particleboard. The products are of contemporary design and function with the concept that is based on low price. High quality, convenience, affordability, consistency, functionality and good design are the essence of this world class home furnishing retailer. Challenges IKEA faced many challenges in terms of culture and business practices as well as socio-economic and political conditions in China. The biggest challenges were pricing, copycat producers and cheap labor cost for assembled furniture. Alternatives To make the price more affordable for Chinese consumers IKEA has developed manufacturing units in China and collects raw materials locally. Due to country specific environment IKEA chose franchising in China. Because of cheap labor cost of Chinese assembled furniture IKEA offers reasonable fee-based assembling services. IKEA has built its stores near public transportation lines inside cities since only 20% of customers own cars in Shanghai. Recommendations IKEA needs to find more local suppliers to keep price lower. To understand local culture and purchasing habit,...
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...well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them." Introduction At the outset, it may be useful to characterise IKEA in terms of the characteristics of demand (also known as the four Vs, see Slack et al. p 20). First, IKEA is clearly a high volume operation – as indeed most international retailers are – which lends to systematising operations but which implies capital intensive processes and therefore cost considerations will be crucial. Second, IKEA offers a large number of products (up to 14000 depending on the country/store) so there is high variety in the production process which not only leads to the need for complex and flexible processes but also entails high unit costs. Third, variation in demand will however be low, or at the least predicable (holiday periods for example) so advanced planning is possible which eliminates the need to set resources aside as a “capacity cushion” for unexpected demand. Lastly, IKEA – again as most retailers – have high process visibility, or in other words display a high degree of direct customer experience, which underlines the importance of dedicating sufficient attention to the shopping experience in all its facets. In what follows, and in line with the questions for this TMS, the implications of the five performance objectives to IKEA will be examined as well as the company’s key operational decisions that have impacted on these objectives. Thereafter ...
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...Case Analysis: Kamprad, Leader of IKEA MBA-530 - Organizational Behavior Introduction – Ingvar Kamprad Sustaining a healthy lifestyle consists of having a rewarding job surrounded by great leadership. A defining career is what Ingvar Kamprad has made for himself and has helped others to achieve. His sole purpose was not to be extremely wealthy, although he is. Mr. Kamprad chose to follow his values, including a responsible work ethic that began from a young age. Born within a class of people that thrived on hard work, Mr. Kamprad understood the meaning of dedication. He started as a teenage entrepreneur selling small office accessories and greeting cards “ . . . using the local milk van to deliver orders” (Chan, 2013). Regardless of the size of his business then, Mr. Kamprad had a clear vision for better things to come. The following examines Mr. Kamprad and how he built IKEA into a corporate empire. He is a prime example of an excellent leader to his people and a well-informed manager of his business. Managing business and leading people have important distinctions however. Colleagues respect Mr. Kamprad as a person who genuinely cares about his employees with a talent for influencing them to succeed. There were mistakes along the way, but a proven leader like Mr. Kamprad faced them head on. IKEA, with its expansively designed stores and loyal customer base, was ranked in Forbes (2013), as “#41 World’s Most Valuable Brands”. Leading vs. Managing Managing and leading...
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...Management IKEA Case Study Sharleen Suwaris-SUSND11 Sharleen Suwaris Executive Summary The following is an analysis of the IKEA case study found in the Strategic Management Text book. This analyses the strategies used by IKEA to gain competitive advantage in markets outside its original area. The report begins by providing a background into IKEA. It studies International Business Level Strategy and the three international corporate level strategies. The case study goes into informing its target market and pricing strategy, which is already discussed. This case study further says how different people in different parts of the world thinks about IKEA, how elegant their designs are and how affordable for them to purchase IKEA products. Some of IKEA’s main markets are in three of the fastest growing markets such as Russia, US and China. IKEA store bring out products such as furniture to small product like a scented candle. IKEA has over 1300 suppliers in about 53 countries. They further have 12 full time in- house designers with 80 free lancers and other production workers to identify the correct raw materials and produce products efficiently and cost effectively. Primarily, IKEA produced standardized products however; this international strategy did not work for one of its vital markets that is, US. Therefore, they had to emphasize on taking corrective actions. The report also analyses the entry methods used by IKEA and its sustainability. IKEA Case Study ...
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...Page no. | 1. Abstract | 02 | 2. Introduction | 03 | 3. Symptoms | 03 | 4. Indentify the problems | 04 | 5. Generate the alternate solution | 04 | 6. Analyze the alternative | 05 | 7. Recommendation | 05 | 8. Implementation | 06 | 9. Conclusion | 06 | Abstract The IKEA Group, one of the world’s top furniture retailers, has emerged as the fastest-growing furniture retailer in the US. To become one of the leading furniture retailers in such huge and promising market, it has set an ambitious goal to have 50 stores around the US by 2013. IKEA has 4 branches in Los Angeles alone. From 1997 to 2001, the revenues of IKEA doubled from $66 million to $1.27 billion in five years. Looking at the growth rate over the past decade, it seems possible for IKEA to reach this goal. However, IKEA faced several challenges: American’s mind-set, competition from established furniture retailer and different customer’s preference. To address to these challenges, IKEA needs to apply market leader strategy expanding total market size, defending and developing its market share to achieve this goal. . Thus, brand awareness gives IKEA a great power in the US market. However, IKEA’s motto is “low price with meaning”. “With meaning” for US market is different from the other markets. If IKEA cannot capture what US customers want, its offerings will become “low price and no meaning”. Introduction IKEA, the world’s largest furniture retailer was...
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...Ikeas questions 1. Are you aware of the sustainability strategy of IKEA? Yes, I am. 2. What comes to your mind when you get asked about the sustainability strategy of IKEA? That IKEA is companies that really prioritize the sustainability issue. IKEA works in many ways to be as environment-friendly as possible. From the sustainable products to the ambition that every warehouse have a goal to be self-sufficient. But also by helping local and global charity organisations. 3. When did IKEA start to put a major effort into sustainability and why? - 4. What part of IKEAs sustainability strategy (environmental, social, economical) would you say is most important in your daily working life with the customers or are they equally important? For me I think the most important strategy is the environmental. It is so easy to follow up and everyone can contribute in the everyday life. But of course the other strategies are also very important but I don’t feel that I communicate that strategy with the costumers. 5. Is there any difference in awareness in the different work positions? No not what I have experienced. IKEA has goals and visions that the whole company works towards no matter if you are a worker or manager. 6. How do/did you as a co-worker become aware of your sustainability strategy? * leaflets, reports * training days * dialogue * formal course (ousourced?) (Take whatever fits and provide a detailed answer to that question please) I think that it is a mix of all...
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...International Marketing Review Emerald Article: Strategic consequences of retail acquisition: IKEA and Habitat Gary Warnaby Article information: To cite this document: Gary Warnaby, (1999),"Strategic consequences of retail acquisition: IKEA and Habitat", International Marketing Review, Vol. 16 Iss: 4 pp. 406 - 417 Permanent link to this document: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/02651339910282027 Downloaded on: 25-01-2013 References: This document contains references to 17 other documents Citations: This document has been cited by 3 other documents To copy this document: permissions@emeraldinsight.com This document has been downloaded 5839 times since 2005. * Users who downloaded this Article also downloaded: * Gary Warnaby, (1999),"Strategic consequences of retail acquisition: IKEA and Habitat", International Marketing Review, Vol. 16 Iss: 4 pp. 406 - 417 http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/02651339910282027 Gary Warnaby, (1999),"Strategic consequences of retail acquisition: IKEA and Habitat", International Marketing Review, Vol. 16 Iss: 4 pp. 406 - 417 http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/02651339910282027 Gary Warnaby, (1999),"Strategic consequences of retail acquisition: IKEA and Habitat", International Marketing Review, Vol. 16 Iss: 4 pp. 406 - 417 http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/02651339910282027 Access to this document was granted through an Emerald subscription provided by LIMKOKWING UNIVERSITY OF CREATIVE TECHNOL For Authors: If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication...
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