28 Best Ingvar Kamprad Quotes from Founder of IKEA

Ingvar Kamprad was a Swedish entrepreneur who founded IKEA in 1943, which became the world’s leading furniture retailer.

As a young boy, Kamprad showed business acumen by selling matches. He established IKEA at 17, naming it using his initials and elements from his upbringing.

Initially selling items like frames and stockings, he pivoted to affordable furniture in 1948, focusing solely on home furnishings by 1951.

Facing a boycott by local suppliers due to IKEA’s low prices, Kamprad designed IKEA’s own products and sourced materials internationally.

Ingvar Kamprad

A game-changer was introducing flat-boxed furniture in 1956, revolutionizing shipping and storage.

The first IKEA store opened in 1958, with nearly 300 stores worldwide in the next five decades.

By 2000, IKEA expanded online and by 2003 had the most widely printed catalog globally.

Kamprad’s success placed him among the world’s wealthiest and he authored a book, which also addressed his past association with Nazi and fascist groups.

In this article, I have picked the best quotes by Ingvar Kamprad.


Best Ingvar Kamprad Quotes

“Most things remain undone. Glorious future!” ~ (Ingvar Kamprad).

“Happiness is not reaching your goal. Happiness is being on the way.” ~ (Ingvar Kamprad).

“You can do so much in 10 minutes time. Ten minutes, once gone, are gone for good. Divide your life into 10-minute units and sacrifice as few of them as possible in meaningless activity.” ~ (Ingvar Kamprad).

“Simplicity and common sense should characterize planning and strategic direction.” ~ (Ingvar Kamprad).

“Waste of resources is a mortal sin at IKEA.” ~ (Ingvar Kamprad).

“The most dangerous poison is the feeling of achievement. The antidote is to every evening think what can be done better tomorrow.” ~ (Ingvar Kamprad).

“Making mistakes is the privilege of the active. It is always the mediocre people who are negative, who spend their time proving that they were not wrong.” ~ (Ingvar Kamprad).

quotes-about-ingvar-kamprad

“Only those who are asleep make no mistakes.” ~ (Ingvar Kamprad).

Top Ingvar Kamprad Quotes

“Time is your most important resource. You can do so much in ten minutes. Ten minutes; once gone is gone for good.” ~ (Ingvar Kamprad).

“Ikea people do not drive flashy cars or stay at luxury hotels.” ~ (Ingvar Kamprad).

“What is good for our customers is also in the long run good for us.” ~ (Ingvar Kamprad).

“To design a desk which may cost $1,000 is easy for a furniture designer but to design a functional and good desk which shall cost only $50 can only be done by the very best.” ~ (Ingvar Kamprad).

“The IKEA spirit is strong and living reality. Simplicity in our behavior gives us strength. Simplicity and humbleness characterize us in our relations with each others, our suppliers and our customers.” ~ (Ingvar Kamprad).

“IKEA is not completely perfect. It irritates me to hear it said that IKEA is the best company in the world. We are going the right way to becoming it but we are not there yet.” ~ (Ingvar Kamprad).

Famous Ingvar Kamprad Quotes

“Ten minutes are not just one-sixth of your hourly pay; ten minutes is a piece of yourself. Divide yourself into ten units and sacrifice as few of them as possible in meaningless activities. Most things still remain to be done.” ~ (Ingvar Kamprad).

“People say I am cheap, and I don’t mind if they do.” ~ (Ingvar Kamprad).

“A better everyday life means getting away from status and conventions – being freer and more at ease as human beings.” ~ (Ingvar Kamprad).

“I’m not afraid of turning 80 and I have lots of things to do. I don’t have time for dying.” ~ (Ingvar Kamprad).

“How can I ask people who work for me to travel cheaply if I am traveling in luxury?” ~ (Ingvar Kamprad).

quotes-on-ingvar-kamprad

“Everything we earn we need as a reserve.” ~ (Ingvar Kamprad).

“If there is such a thing as good leadership, it is to give a good example. I have to do so for all the Ikea employees.” ~ (Ingvar Kamprad).

Popular Ingvar Kamprad Quotes

“It was our duty to expand. Those who cannot or will not join us are to be pitied. What we want to do, we can do and will do, together. A glorious future!” ~ (Ingvar Kamprad).

“Once and for all, we have decided to side with the many.” ~ (Ingvar Kamprad).

“Simple routine have a greater impact. It is not just to cut costs that we avoid luxury hotels. We do not need fancy cars, posh titles, tailor made uniforms or other status symbols.” ~ (Ingvar Kamprad).

“We ought to have more women in various management positions, because women are the ones who decide almost everything in the home.” ~ (Ingvar Kamprad).

“We have to still develop the IKEA group. We need many billions of Swiss francs to take on China or Russia.” ~ (Ingvar Kamprad).

“I could have an office all to myself but since my collaborators don’t have one, then I too am contented to have a desk in a shared room.” ~ (Ingvar Kamprad).

“I’m stingy and I’m proud of the reputation.” ~ (Ingvar Kamprad).


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Chandan Negi
Chandan Negi

I’m the Founder of Internet Pillar - I love sharing quotes and motivational content to inspire and motivate people - #quotes #motivation #internetpillar