I.K.E.A. and Me

I’m not a person who particularly loves to shop. I’m the in and out guy, the one that goes to the mall only when I need to buy something.

But IKEA is my one exception. After trying to furnish a condo unit in Manila, I realized that I was a big fan of cheap, well designed furniture and fixtures. Hence by sheer correlation I am an IKEA fan. IKEA is actually an acronym for the name of its founder Ingar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd on 28 July, 1943. And here’s where my link with IKEA gets freaky. I was born July 29 and since the Philippines is 1 day or so ahead of Sweden one can say that I was born exactly 34 years after IKEA was founded. Is that coincidence or what?!

According to their website,

“The IKEA Concept began when Ingvar Kamprad, an entrepreneur from the Småland province in southern Sweden, had an innovative idea. In Småland, although the soil is thin and poor, the people have a reputation for working hard, living frugally and making the most out of limited resources. So when Ingvar started his furniture business in the late 1940s, he applied the lessons he learned in Småland to the home furnishings market.

Ingvar's innovative idea was to offer home furnishing products of good function and design at prices much lower than competitors by using simple cost-cutting solutions that did not affect the quality of products. Ingvar used every opportunity to reduce costs, and he scraped and saved in every way possible - except on ideas and quality. This is how the IKEA Concept began.”

When you go furniture shopping here in Manila, you’ll know why this whole concept just makes absolute sense. It’s either tacky and cheap or expensive and nice. Rarely can you find anything in between. So last time I was in HK, I bought myself a stand lamp (seen in the picture), 2 mounted wall lights, blinds and candles all for P4,560.00 (Manila - P 15,250 ++) . And I hand carried them home. If that’s not a testament to crazy love, I don’t know what is.

When I finally screwed the last lock on my blinds I looked at my handiwork and said, “it is good”. Not exactly Better Living but good nevertheless. Thank you Ingar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd!

visit IKEA at www.ikea.com