Ikea to enter home electronics market
Published: 17 Apr 12 10:44 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/40306/20120417/
Swedish electronics chains, already battling a sinking market, will be forced to compete on a whole new scale as Swedish furniture giant Ikea launches plans to enter the market with a new range of furniture with built-in electronics.
- Couple sues Ikea to expose spying 'cover-up' (12 Apr 12)
- Ikea says no to hiring cronies of Italian politico (28 Mar 12)
- Ikea 'not wrong' to bar a 5-year-old from ball pit (7 Mar 12)
According to Ikea, the start will be a range of living room furniture called Uppleva -- a Swedish word which means 'Experience' in English -- designed to house a built-in TV and home cinema system.
“With this integrated audio-visual piece we can offer attractive, wireless and affordable solutions to our many customers. Uppleva is an innovative step into a new market for Ikea,” Öncu said in a statement.
However, according to Jonas Arnberg, a consultant at HUI Research, (formerly the Swedish Retail Institute), Ikea’s new venture was unexpected.
“It is a business where none of the main operators are doing particularly well. What everyone is waiting for is one to disappear and instead another enters the race,” he told TT.
Arnberg does not think that Ikea's foray into home electronics will do as well as the Swedish retailer's venture into the white goods market has done.
“If it is indeed possible that Ikea underestimates something, this might be it. This is an incredibly tough business, “said Arnberg to TT.
Ikea is set to start selling their furniture with built in electronics in five countries in June. The products will then be launched globally in 2013.
TT/Rebecca Martin
twitter.com/thelocalsweden
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Sweden's economic mood dips: survey
Swedish consumers are feeling less optimistic about the economy, with a down-turn also visible in the mood of the manufacturing industry, Sweden's National Institute for Economic Research said on Friday. READ () »
Swedish fashion grads turn to melancholy
This year's Beckmans fashion graduates unleashed a dramatic clash of collections in Stockholm this week. It may have been dazzlingly hot outside in the sunshine, but on the catwalk things got a little dark. READ () »
Sweden 'fails to help well-educated foreigners'
The white-collar union Saco has lambasted Sweden's Employment Agency for its failure to help well-educated, foreign-born job seekers, whose unemployment rate is more than three times the average for people born in Sweden. READ () »
Mixed results for Sweden refugee job push
Fifteen percent of refugees in Sweden who enrolled in the new establishment system the past two years have gone on to find jobs, new figures show, leading some observers to worry that the low success rate will place a burden on the benefits system. READ () »
Riksbank unveils new board members
Sweden's central bank has appointed two new board members plucked from banking and academia to replace two outgoing members, one of whom was an outspoken critic of the Riksbank's commitment to the government's inflation goal. READ () »
350 jobs lost as Ericsson shuts Swedish factory
Swedish telecom giant Ericsson has buckled under the pressure of European competition and will turn off the switch on a cable production plant in Sweden, leaving 350 employees without jobs. READ () »
Sweden has 'lower tax burden' than Senegal
While Sweden has a reputation for having one of the most painful tax bills in the world, a new report ranks Sweden 20th when comparing the tax burden on salaries when social security payments and salary brackets are taken into account. READ () »
Ericsson probed over suspected bribes
Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson is suspected of having bribed ministers in Romania in connection with being awarded a contract for the country's emergency number and is now under investigation in the United States. READ () »
Warning over 'long-term' Swedish export slump
Sweden's largest business confederation has gone out guns blazing, criticizing politicians for not facing up to the challenges of "a lost year for Swedish exports" in 2012. READ () »
'Lean hospital a sign of Swedish welfare reform'
A Stockholm hospital saved from closure by private health care providers has been hailed by the Economist as one of modern's Sweden public-private success stories. READ () »
- 19/05 Nord Stream plans new gas pipelines »
- 17/05 'Sweden next in line for housing market crash' »
- 17/05 Solna voted best place to live in Sweden »
- 17/05 Ikea founder rated fifth richest in the world »
- 17/05 LinkedIn profile lands Swede with hefty tax bill »
- 16/05 India in no rush to open first Ikea store »
- 16/05 H&M CEO to Bangladesh: raise minimum wages »
- 15/05 Sweden plummets in income equality ranking »
- 15/05 Pensioners to recruit ageing Swedish rockers »
- 15/05 Swedish shop hits back: our Converse are real »
| 25/05 | Director of Product, Apps | Stockholm |
| 25/05 | Director of Product, Hardware | Stockholm |
| 25/05 | Director of Product, Platform | Stockholm |
| 25/05 | International Brand Manager | Malmö |
| 25/05 | Lead Product Designer - Spotify Apps/Partner Solutions | Stockholm |
| 25/05 | Major Account Manager Sweden | Stockholm |
| 25/05 | Medical Director (Respiratory) | Sverige |
| 25/05 | Principal / Senior Business Consultant | Stockholm |
| 25/05 | Project Manager | Hässleholm |
| 25/05 | Project Manager | Stockholm |
- 24/05 IEA: protect consumers from energy price hikes »
- 24/05 German consumers keep recession at bay »
- 23/05 Tax evasion 'OK for Joe Normal' say Germans »
- 22/05 Spain and Germany fight youth employment »
- 21/05 Car boss asks Merkel to rethink CO2 pledge »
- 21/05 SAP to hire hundreds of autistic IT experts »
- 18/05 Economists warn against German euro exit »
- 17/05 Germany cool to France's EU economy plan »
- 17/05 Au pairs rules relax for non-German families »
- 16/05 Germany refuses to slam French economic policy »
- 04:11 Husby Riots and violence against the police...
- 02:34 Driving to Sweden from the UK
- 02:32 Tuition fees across Europe for non-EU students
- 00:27 Relocation to Stockholm
- 23:55 Something you dont know about SWEDEN
- 19:12 Phone landline installation
- 18:27 Salary for a cashier working at ICA, COOP?
- 17:34 Canada vs. Sweden
- 13:22 Sweden, English News and Alternative Media...
- 23:14 Cleaning business in Sweden
Create an account with Banc De Binary, the world’s most reputable binary options firm, and start cashing in today! You can start by practicing with our free $50,000 demo account.
www.bbinary.com
Expat counsellor & talk therapist offers counselling for stress, relationship issues, sexuality, culture adjustment & life coaching. Private & confidential. Stockholm or Skype. Contact me today! 08-559 22 636 or
CLICK HERE
Casa Birgitta in Algarve, Portugal. Reduced price in best location. Private estate on white sand beach. All amenities included. Book here today! edward_george1@hotmail.com
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Your comments about this article:
The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.
It's really hard to make money in electronics - many companies, but retailers and manufacturers, fail to make money - just look at Dixon's, Best Buy, On Off, Sony, etc. and these companies already have very advanced supply chains. Ikea doesn't bring anything to the table here.
Fail... Just wait a few years and this will go the way of inflatable furniture.
I bought our kitchen appliances though IKEA recently. They are exactly the same models as previously with Whirlpool ect, just the Whirlpool logo taken off the front. Spare parts are still available, and they have 5 year warrantee. I have had no problems.
Just wait until year six on your dishwasher... 2000 kr in so far (new circulation pump, new plastic piece). Of three of my friends with the same whirlpool/Ikea dishwasher, two of them have problems as well - one with the buttons (thin layer of plastic on top breaking) and one with circulation pump problems.
I previously thought Whirlpool was a reasonably good brand, but I have my doubts now... And the replacement pump seems to be total garbage compared to the original - noisier and weighs 75% less.
But at least you can get parts :)
If it is Whirlpool under the hood, at least advertise it somewhere rather than hide it. Whatever people think of the brand, they know that they can get spare parts for it.