Ingvar Kamprad started IKEA in his small farming village in Sweeden over 60 years ago.

He was only 17 years old and sold his products from his bicycle. When his business grew.

He distributed them from a milk van. He first introduced furniture into the IKEA product range in 1947.

Demand for his furniture increased rapidly, so he decide to specialize in this line. In the mid 1950s, IKEA began designing its own furniture. It wanted to make innovative, stylish products and to keep price down.

This made it possible for a large number of custumers to buy IKEA home furnishings. IKEA opened its first store in Sweden in 1958. In the next 40 years, the number of stores went up to over 150 in 29 countries.