Ingvar Kamprad runs the most successful flat-pack furniture business in the world. His aversion to paying extra for already expensive goods in terms of delivery costs gave him the idea of producing build-it-yourself items. Customers could see the items on display in self-service stores, pick up their selection of goods and take them straight home. In addition, he offered car roof-racks, which made it even easier for people to take their purchases with them.
There are now more than 150 stores across 30 countries. Kamprad dislikes the notion that his stores create the same kinds of homes all over the world. His argument is that there are millions of different ways that people can use his products, and each nationality puts items together in different combinations to suit their own living styles.