logo
episode-header-image
About this episode

IKEA may be the most singular company we’ve ever studied on Acquired. They’re a globally scaled, $50B annual revenue company with no direct competitors — yet have only ~5% market share. They’re one of the largest retailers in the world — yet sell only their own products. They generate a few billion in free cash flow every year — yet have no shareholders. And oh yeah, they also sell hot dogs cheaper than Costco! (Sort of.)

Tune in for an episode flat-packed with counterintuitive lessons about how this folksy mail order business from the Swedish countryside came into your living rooms (and bedrooms and dining rooms and kitchens and bathrooms and patios and garages and backyards) all over the globe!

Sponsors:

WorkOS: https://bit.ly/workos25
Sentry: https://bit.ly/acquiredsentry
ServiceNow: https://bit.ly/acquiredsn

Links:

Carve Outs:


More Acquired!:

© Copyright 2015-2025 ACQ, LLC


‍Note: Acquired hosts and guests may hold assets discussed in this episode. This podcast is not investment advice, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. You should do your own research and make your own independent decisions when considering any financial transactions.
Up next
Jun 30
Google
We tell the story of the single greatest business ever created: Google search. From its origins as a Stanford research project called BackRub, Google became the front door to the internet. Today it’s an essential service for over half the world, and one that generates more profit ... Show More
3h 39m
Jun 2
The Steve Ballmer Interview
We sit down with Steve Ballmer, the legendary former Microsoft CEO and owner of the LA Clippers, for an epic conversation covering his 34 years at Microsoft. Steve listened to our Microsoft episodes and had some thoughts to share — and boy, did he deliver. Steve takes us point-by ... Show More
2h 59m
Apr 28
Announcement: Acquired Live at Radio City Music Hall!
A few weeks ago, we told you that Acquired is doing something in New York City on July 15 with our good friends at J.P. Morgan Payments. Well, the big announcement is finally here: We are doing our 2025 Live Show… at Radio City Music Hall!Radio City is of course the iconic New Yo ... Show More
4m 25s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2024
The IKEA Effect | 6
IKEA has been in the game for about 80 years, earning a spot as the largest furniture retailer in the world. From the meatballs, to the maze, to the DIY furniture, IKEA is a force in our culture and our homes. David is exploring how the company became so ubiquitous worldwide, and ... Show More
35m 19s
Jun 6
HIGHLIGHTS: Jesper Brodin - CEO of IKEA
We've curated a special 10-minute version of the podcast for those in a hurry. Here you can listen to the full episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/jesper-brodin-inside-ikea-democratic-design-and/id1614211565?i=1000711105155&l=nbEver wondered how those iconic blue and y ... Show More
10 m
Nov 2024
#370 The Founder of IKEA: Ingvar Kamprad
What I learned from reading Leading By Design: The Ikea Story by Ingvar Kamprad and Bertil Torekull and The Testament of a Furniture Dealer by Ingvar Kamprad.----Ramp gives you everything you need to control spend, watch your costs, and optimize your financial operations —all on ... Show More
1h 5m
Oct 2022
Lessons in Purchasing Economies from Costco, JD and Pinduoduo (142)
This week’s podcast is about economies of scale in purchasing power. I go through Walmart and Costco as traditional examples. And point to JD, Apple, and Pinduoduo as digital examples.You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available ... Show More
35m 11s
Sep 2023
Sarah Moret Grew Curie 1000% In One Year And Sold Into Every Walmart
It's arguably the wildest ride I've ever been on in ecommerce: since beginning to work with Sarah Moret and Curie in January of this year (2023), we've seen the brand go from $2M in 2022 to a projected $20M by year's end–and it's very profitable. Oh also: part ... Show More
1 h
Jan 2025
#329 - Bloon : Peut-on se faire une place dans le mobilier pro avec un produit unique ?
Laurent Kretz reçoit Raphaël Mille, cofondateur de Bloon, la marque de sièges ballons énergonomiques.Bloon, c’est une ambition simple : offrir du mobilier ergonomique et esthétique qui s’intègre parfaitement dans les espaces de travail et de vie.Les temps forts de l’épisode :[00: ... Show More
1h 10m
Feb 2025
The Retail Trends (And Retailers) To Watch In 2025 | Ask An Expert
🎙️ Omni Talk Retail Ask An Expert – Featuring Placer.ai’s Ethan ChernofskyRetailers are rethinking their store formats, customer engagement strategies, and location choices—but what does the foot traffic data actually say? Placer.ai’s SVP of Marketing, Ethan Chernofsky, joins Ch ... Show More
36m 54s
Jun 2024
Fast Five Shorts | Ikea To Staff Employees Within Roblox
In the latest edition of Omni Talk’s Retail Fast Five live from CommerceNext in NYC, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Avalara, Mirakl, Ownit AI and Sezzle Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga discuss: Ikea Staffing Employees Within RobloxFor the full episode head here: h ... Show More
4m 47s
Jan 2025
TIP691: Sol Price: The Retail Visionary Behind Costco w/ Clay Finck
Clay dives into the life and legacy of Sol Price, the pioneering retail entrepreneur who revolutionized the industry with FedMart and Price Club, ultimately leading to the creation of Costco. The episode explores how Price's business philosophies, including treating employees wel ... Show More
1h 14m
Aug 2023
Ciara Anfield (Sam's Club) | A Masterclass in Arriving to Purpose
Jim's guest today on The CMO Podcast is Ciara Anfield, the Senior Vice President and Chief Membership & Marketing Officer at Sam’s Club. Sam’s has a special place in Jim's heart–the first store opened in 1983, the same year that Jim and his wife got married and he started at Proc ... Show More
48m 43s