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IKEA

If I tell someone from another country that I’m from Sweden, a very common response is: ”Sweden! IKEA!”

Sweden is IKEA, IKEA is Sweden.

IKEA is known pretty much all around the world. This cheap furniture and interior shop is located in 25 countries (most of them in Europe), employes 123 000 people and has an annual sales of 21,5 billion Euros.

IKEA was founded by a man called Ingvar Kamprad. When he started the business he was only 17 years old. Now, almost 70 years later he is said to be one of the richest people on earth.

The business idea is to produce beautiful and functional furniture that most people can afford. And it is really cheap! A bedside table for 10 Euros, lamps for 12 Euros, beautiful glasses for 50 cent!

Some things are really, really nice, while other things look quite cheap of course. IKEA is always trying to lower the prices, to sell things as cheap as possible.

I love IKEA. I think the idea of the whole business is great, and many things are very nice, and cheap! It almost makes me laugh when I counted the furniture in my room from IKEA, and realised that ALL of it is from there. My bed, my TV-bench, my wardrobe, curtains, armchair… If you pick out the goodies you can come a long way with only IKEA.

Most Swedes love IKEA, and I believe that most of us go there more than once every year.

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The food store.

Coffee and cookies, all for 3,8 Euros. Would normally cost about 10.

IKEA also has a restaurant with really cheap prices. Abnormally cheap prices.

Smart solutions in the restrooms with a toilet for kids next to the normal sized.

The Swedish Dalahorse (Dalahäst)

One Swedish hallmark is the Dalahorse from one of our counties Dalarna. It’s a wooden horse in a certain horse shape, traditionally painted in red with ornaments in white and blue. But these days you can find Dalahorses everywhere, in other materials and colours. Right now it’s kind of fashionable to have one in your home.

But the one that will always remain the original Dalahäst is the one in wood from Dalarna. It’s been manufactured since the 17^th century, but the most beautiful and high quality horses were made during the end of the 19^th century and the beginning of the 20^th century.

The biggest Dalahorse you can find in Sweden, of course. Outside the Swedish city Avesta, a 13 metre tall Dalahorse decorates the landscape.

My brother had a period in his teens when his answer to everything was “Dalahäst”.

-          What’s your favourite food?

-          Dalahäst.

-          What are you doing?

-          Dalahäst.

-          Would you mind helping out here?!

-          Dalahäst.

It kind of got on your nerves sometimes. Finally he has grown up.