The retailer has made the “decision to respectfully end the successful career of the Ikea Catalogue”
After more than 70 years of printing, Ikea has decided to stop publishing its iconic paper catalogue. The Swedish furniture giant said that it will focus on an all-digital listing of its wares going forward.
“Times are changing,” the company said in the statement. “Ikea is transforming its business model to become more accessible and digital, while embracing new ways to connect with more people.”
At its peak in 2016, more than 200 million copies of the catalogue were printed every year around the world, in 32 different languages for the 50 different countries that have Ikea stores. The last one to be printed was the 2021 version that shipped this summer and was printed in 40 million copies.
According to Ikea, the very first catalogue was put together by the Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad himself in 1951, and it was printed in 285,000 copies, which were distributed around the southern part of Sweden where the company was also started.
“For 70 years it has been one of our most unique and iconic products,” Konrad Gruss, Managing Director at Inter Ikea Systems, said in a statement.
“Turning the page with our beloved catalogue is emotional but rational,” Gruss added.
I understand the economics of printing the catalogue but the stock list available on the IKEA app does not replace the 25, 35, and 50 sq.m home spaces that put together design ideas of how to plan small area homes on a limited budget.
I have a budget of $20000 – $30000 and want to fit out two little apartments in a large tin shed all ready containing our 100sq m home in one half which we equipped 30 years ago.
I’m 79 and IKEA’s change does not feel like a technology update – more like being left – ‘Lost in Space”.
WHY NOT INCLUDE PICTURES OF COMPLETE KITCHENS, BATHROOMS, LIVING AREAS AND SMALL APARTMENTS ON THE NEW APP?
More than half the population in Western Australia does not live within a reasonable catchment area of our only IKEA store.
IKEA IS KNOWN FOR STYLE – AN INVENTORY IS USED FOR STOCK TAKING