Case Study Ikea
IKEA INVADES AMERICA
IKEA is a major competitor in the home furnishing and home goods operations with operations in more than 30 countries. IKEA unique brand identity is its unassembled products that require consumer assembling. The IKEA Group, one of the world’s top furniture retailers, has emerged as the fastest-growing furniture retailer in the US. To become one of the leading furniture retailers in such huge and promising market, it has set an ambitious goal to have 50 stores around the US by 2013. IKEA has 4 branches in Los Angeles alone. From 1997 to 2001, the revenues of IKEA doubled from $66 million to $1.27 billion in five years. Looking at the growth rate over the past decade, it seems possible for IKEA to reach this goal. However, IKEA faced several challenges: American’s mind-set, rivalry from established furniture retailer and different customer’s preference. To address to these challenges, IKEA needs to apply market leader strategy expanding total market size, defending and developing its market share to achieve this goal and should focus on individual market development rather mass market development.
One of IKEA’s long-term advantages is its brand. To many consumers, IKEA means low-priced furniture, Scandinavian design and style, shopping convenience. IKEA’s cheap furniture does not make consumers feel cheap but rather beautiful, convenient and well-designed. IKEA has a unique shopping culture that makes consumers feel a “real Scandinavian design and style” when they shop. Thus, brand awareness gives IKEA a great power in the US market. However, IKEA’s motto is “low price with meaning”. “With meaning” for US market is different from the other markets. If IKEA cannot capture what US customers want, its offerings will become “low price and no meaning”. IKEA already listens to US customers’ needs but it should focus more on local market point of view.
ISSUES
Americans’ attitude towards furniture’s durability
Americans typically have a
IKEA is a major competitor in the home furnishing and home goods operations with operations in more than 30 countries. IKEA unique brand identity is its unassembled products that require consumer assembling. The IKEA Group, one of the world’s top furniture retailers, has emerged as the fastest-growing furniture retailer in the US. To become one of the leading furniture retailers in such huge and promising market, it has set an ambitious goal to have 50 stores around the US by 2013. IKEA has 4 branches in Los Angeles alone. From 1997 to 2001, the revenues of IKEA doubled from $66 million to $1.27 billion in five years. Looking at the growth rate over the past decade, it seems possible for IKEA to reach this goal. However, IKEA faced several challenges: American’s mind-set, rivalry from established furniture retailer and different customer’s preference. To address to these challenges, IKEA needs to apply market leader strategy expanding total market size, defending and developing its market share to achieve this goal and should focus on individual market development rather mass market development.
One of IKEA’s long-term advantages is its brand. To many consumers, IKEA means low-priced furniture, Scandinavian design and style, shopping convenience. IKEA’s cheap furniture does not make consumers feel cheap but rather beautiful, convenient and well-designed. IKEA has a unique shopping culture that makes consumers feel a “real Scandinavian design and style” when they shop. Thus, brand awareness gives IKEA a great power in the US market. However, IKEA’s motto is “low price with meaning”. “With meaning” for US market is different from the other markets. If IKEA cannot capture what US customers want, its offerings will become “low price and no meaning”. IKEA already listens to US customers’ needs but it should focus more on local market point of view.
ISSUES
Americans’ attitude towards furniture’s durability
Americans typically have a