Ingvar Kamprad: From Swedish Countryside to Global Furniture Revolution

In the harsh economic landscape of 1930s Sweden, a five-year-old boy began selling matches to his neighbors. This seemingly modest beginning would eventually transform into one of the world’s most recognized brands.

The Great Depression had cast its shadow over Sweden, with people queuing for food, jobs, and basic necessities. In the Swedish province of Småland, where young Ingvar Kamprad lived, the stony land produced poor crops, forcing families to be innovative and thrifty just to survive. Born in 1926 to Feodor and Berta Kamprad, Ingvar grew up understanding hardship from an early age.

The countryside of Småland was no place for the faint-hearted. Farmers supplemented their income by selling homemade goods, and children were expected to contribute. Rather than merely helping with farm chores, young Ingvar focused on supporting his family finances through entrepreneurship.

His very first customer was his grandmother. With remarkable business acumen for his age, Ingvar quickly realized the potential of buying matches in bulk from Stockholm and selling them individually at a low price while still making a good profit.