IKEA

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IKEA logo 1950

Name: "IKEA"

Category: Home - Office - School

Subcategory: Furniture, home accessories

Founder: Ingvar Kamprad

Founded: July 12, 1943 - Älmhult, Sweden

First opening: Oct. 28, 1958 - Älmhult, Sweden

Features: Originally, IKEA sold mail-order products such as pens, wallets, picture frames, table runners, watches, jewellery and nylon stockings. Furniture was introduced in 1948, IKEA design in 1955, and the first store opened in 1958.

Interesting facts: The company's name is an acronym that consists of the initials of Ingvar Kamprad (its founder), Elmtaryd (the farm where he grew up), and Agunnaryd (his hometown in Småland, southern Sweden). The first commercial business started in 1943 as a mail-order business selling pencils, postcards, and other merchandise. In 1948 furniture is introduced in the IKEA business as a complement to the general merchandise. This is a success, and Ingvar Kamprad starts exploring innovative solutions such as furniture design, self-assembly and advertising. In 1951 the first annual IKEA furniture catalog is published in Sweden, and two years later a showroom opens in Älmhult. In 1955 the IKEA business starts designing its own furniture. Over time, flat packaging and self-assembly become part of the concept. On October 28, 1958 the first IKEA store opens in Älmhult, Sweden. In the 1960s the international expansion of the IKEA business begins, with stablishments of small start-up stores in Norway and in Denmark.

Quote (Ingvar Kamprad): «Only while sleeping one makes no mistakes»

Property: IKEA - Inter IKEA Systems B.V.

Official website: http://www.ikea.com

IKEA, the very first catalog: "Ikéa-Nytt" / IKEA News (1948-49)

IKEA, the second catalog "Ikéa-Nytt" / IKEA News, cover and two random pages (1949-50)

IKEA, the first furniture catalog (1951)

IKEA, the first showroom (Älmhult 1953)

IKEA, the first store (Älmhult 1958)

IKEA, the first store (Älmhult 1959)

Ingvar Feodor Kamprad (Ljungby, March 30, 1926 - Småland, January 27, 2018), the Swedish entrepreneur who founded IKEA, in front of the world's first IKEA store opened in Älmhult 1958.

IKEA Museum: opened in June 2016, it is located in the original building that housed the first IKEA store, which opened in 1958 and closed in 2012 when the new store opened in Älmhult.

Volvo: 1st model ever

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Volvo logo 1927

Name: "Volvo ÖV4"

Nickname: "Jakob"

Category: Cars

Subcategory: Cabriolet

Designer: Jan G. Smith

Producer: Volvo Car Corporation (founded by Gustaf Larson as technical manager and Assar Gabrielsson as managing director on April 14, 1927)

Prototypes made in: 1926 (10 produced) - Stockholm, Sweden

Production start: April 14, 1927 - Gothenburg, Sweden - A total of 996 models were produced

Discontinued: April 1929

First price: 4,800 Swedish kronor (5,800 for the covered version PV4)

Features: The body of the Volvo ÖV4 had four doors and was covered in sheet steel on a frame of ash and copper beech. The upholstery was made of leather. Engine: In-line 4 cylinder with side valves, 1,940 cc (118 cu in) 75x110 mm; 28 bhp at 2000 rpm. Transmission: 3 speed with direct action floor lever. Brakes: Mechanical on rear wheels (optional four wheel brakes from 1928). Dimensions: Wheelbase 112 in; weight 2580 lb. Cruising speed 37 mph and top speed 55 mph. The body of the sedan version PV4 was based on the Weymann principle, with an insulated wooden frame without wood-to-wood contact between the components and covered with artificial leather instead of steel.

Interesting facts: Volvo was established in 1915 as a subsidiary of SKF, the ball bearing manufacturer; the company as an automobile company was born on August 10, 1926; however the Volvo Group and Volvo Cars consider themselves to have been officially founded on 14 April 1927, when the first car, the Volvo ÖV4 series, rolled out of the factory in Hisingen, Gothenburg. The trademark Volvo (which is Latin for I roll) was first registered by SKF on May 11, 1915, with the intention to use it for a special series of ball bearing for the American market (however in the application for the trademark, it was also designated for the purpose of automobiles), but it was never used for this purpose. The designation ÖV 4 stands for "Öppen Vagn 4 cylindrar" in Swedish, which means Open Carriage 4 cylinders. The model ÖV4 was often referred to as "Jakob" but that was just a name for one of the 10 pre-series ÖV4 that was ready on 25 July, Jakob's name-day. All 10 prototypes (9 cabriolet and 1 sedan) were assembled in Stockholm at the company AB Galco, where Volvo co-founder Gustav Larson worked at that time. The ÖV 4 engine was designed by Gustaf Larson and its main chassis components by Jan G. Smith, a designer who had worked many years in the American automobile industry and returned to Sweden in 1924. In 1927 Volvo made 280 cars. The covered version, Volvo PV4 (Personvagn-4 cylindrar), designed to hold strong in the Swedish climate and terrain, was introduced in the end of 1927. Between April 1927 and April 1929 (discontinued) a total of 996 cars were manufactured.

Quote (Gustaf Larson and Assar Gabrielsson, 1927): «Cars are driven by people. The guiding principle behind everything we make at Volvo, therefore, is and must remain, safety».

Property: Volvo Car Corporation

Producer website: http://www.volvocars.com

Volvo ÖV4, Volvo's first ever produced car (1927)

Volvo ÖV4, the only available color was dark blue with black wings

Volvo PV4, the covered version of the ÖV4 (1927). Volvo's first sedan car appeared in the summer of 1927 and an alternative "Special" version was introduced the following year. The seats could be converted into a comfortable bed for two people.

Volvo celebrates 85th anniversary (1927-2012) by recreating historic photograph with new executives who pass through the same gates in the same historic ÖV4 car.

Volvo founders: Erik Gustaf Larson (July 8, 1887 - July 4, 1968), automotive engineer, and Assar Thorvald Nathanael Gabrielsson (Aug. 13, 1891 - May 28, 1962), industrialist.

Volvo XC40 Recharge, Volvo's first all-electric car (2017)

H&M Hennes & Mauritz

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Hennes logo 1947

Original name: "Hennes" (1947)

Name: "H&M Hennes & Mauritz" (1968)

Category: Fashion

Subcategory: Clothing

Founder: Erling Persson

Founded / Opened: 1947 - Västerås, Sweden

Features: H&M Hennes & Mauritz is a Swedish multinational retail-clothing company, known for its fashion clothing for men, women, teenagers and children.

Interesting facts: In 1947 founder Erling Persson opened his first store called Hennes, meaning "hers" in Swedish, in Västerås, 60 miles west of Stockholm, which exclusively sold women's clothing. In 1952 Hennes opened in Stockholm; the first store outside Sweden opened in Norway in 1964. In 1968, Persson acquired the premises and inventory of a Stockholm hunting equipment store named Mauritz Widforss; in the same year sales of men's and children's clothing began, and the name was changed to Hennes & Mauritz.
From then onwards, the company embarked upon a major expansion program opening many further stores in Europe; the expansion outside of Europe started with the US (Fifth Avenue, New York) in 2000.

Property: H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB

Official website: http://hm.com

Hennes, the first store was opened on the high street of Västerås, Sweden, selling exclusively women's clothing (1947)

Hennes, first opening in Stockholm, Sweden (1952)

Hennes advertising (1954)

Hennes, image from autumnal catalogue (ca. 1960)

H&M Hennes & Mauritz origin: founder Erling Persson buys Mauritz Widforss, a hunting and fishing equipment store; sales of men's and children's clothing begin, and the name is changed to Hennes & Mauritz (1968)

Erling Persson (Borlänge, Jan. 21, 1917 - Stockholm, Oct. 28, 2002), founder of H&M

H&M celebrates 500th North American store opening at Dolphin Mall in Miami (Dec. 2015)

Absolut Vodka

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Absolut Vodka logo
1979
by Carlsson & Broman

Original name: "Tiodubbelt Renadt Brännvin" (1877)

Name: "Absolut Rent Brännvin" (1879)

International name: "Absolut Vodka" (1979)

Category: Liquors

Subcategory: Vodka

Inventor: Lars Olsson Smith

Producer: V&S Vin & Sprit AB

Production start: 1879 - Åhus, Sweden

Lars Olsson Smith
Kiaby, Oct. 12, 1836
Karlskrona, Dec. 9, 1913,
spirits manufacturer and
inventor of Absolut Vodka

Recipe: The ingredients for the production of Absolut Vodka are grain (winter wheat), sweetening enzymes (in the mashing process), yeast and water. It does not contain any gluten as it is removed in the production process. Proof: 80 - 100.

Interesting facts: Absolut Vodka was introduced in Sweden in 1879 as "Absolut rent bränvin" - "Absolutely pure vodka". Lars Olsson Smith, famous entrepreneur and father of Absolut Vodka, applied a new method of distillation using rectification. In 1917, the alcohol industry in Sweden was monopolized by the Swedish government. Vodka was then sold nationwide under the name "Absolut Rent Brännvin". The name changed with intervals, "Renat Brännvin" or "Absolut Rent Brännvin". In 1979, the old name Absolut was picked up when Absolut Vodka was introduced in the United States through Carillon Importers Ltd. in New York. A few final changes were made to the bottle - the now famous medallion of Lars Olsson Smith was added and the neck was made a little longer. The first consignment of Absolut Vodka was filled at the Åhus distillery on April 17, 1979 and Absolut Vodka went on sale for the first time in the US in Boston two months later. In a short time, Absolut Vodka has gone from a Swedish domestic vodka to one of the world's 10 leading spirits brands.

Slogan: «Country of Sweden» was added between "Absolut" and "Vodka" to stress the vodka's origin and its tradition of purity.

Property: V&S Vin & Sprit AB

Product website: http://www.absolut.com

Renat Bordsbrännvin (1917), an early version of Absolut Vodka

Absolut Rent Brännvin (1917), some early versions of Absolut Vodka

A sketch of the iconic Absolut Vodka bottle (1978), based on a vintage apothecary bottle

Absolut Vodka (1979), the first bottle produced

Absolut Vodka (1980), the first bottle in its distinctive design

Medallion on the top of the bottle bearing the portrait of its inventor Lars Olsson Smith. Over the years it has been designed in different versions and printed on different materials.

The first Absolut Vodka campaign (1980 by Geoff Hays of the TBWA ad agency in New York). 94 advertising agencies pitched for the opportunity to design an advertising campaign for Absolut, and this was the winning concept. Through the years, this simple, but sophisticated Absolut ads - a picture of the bottle accompanied by a witty caption (some examples at bottom) - have captured the imagination of the general public.

Absolute Vodka advertising (1986 by the famous artist Andy Warhol)

Absolut Vodka in some of its advanced versions and flavors (2023)