Shoppers push a cartload of purchases past a warehouse of the Swedish furniture maker Ikea in Bordeaux, France, in 2010. Ikea, the Swedish furniture giant — founded by Ingvar Kamprad, who died this weekend at age 91 — has come to embody simple, affordable furniture for the masses. With its clean lines and practical pieces, Ikea has outfitted millions of college apartments and brought a Scandinavian aesthetic into everyday homes. Its success has also given way to a cottage industry of businesses that specialize in assembling Ikea furniture. Ikea itself has gotten into the fray: In September, it purchased TaskRabbit, a start-up that providers contractors for odd jobs, to appeal to a generation of time-strapped consumers who want Ikea furniture without the hassle of assembling it.

Source: Washington Post January 28, 2018 19:18 UTC