IKEA is undoubtedly one of the world’s most successful, enigmatic, and recognisable global brands - last year nearly 900 million people in 49 countries visited its stores, with a turnover of over £34 billion.

In a major new three-part series, our cameras explore IKEA’s design studios, factories and stores around the world for the very first time.

Few companies can legitimately claim to shape the way we live today. Fewer still inspire a cult-like devotion in customers and employees alike. But IKEA is not like other companies.

The famously secretive Swedish furniture retailer is guided by the principle of creating “the better everyday life for the many people.” But what is the secret to its success? How does the machine of IKEA affect the people who work for it, and how does its ruthlessly efficient business model affect the world?

For the first time in the company’s 70-year history, IKEA has opened the doors to our cameras with exclusive access to stores, warehouses, test-labs and design-studios. Throughout 2017 we followed the daily challenges of designers, product developers, store managers and suppliers - filming around the world, from Sweden to India, China and Jordan.

We follow the journey of new products, from the development headquarters in Älmhult, Sweden; through prototyping, testing, manufacturing and approval.  We explore how IKEA’s catalogue is created – where thousands of products are photographed in extraordinary detail in Europe’s largest photographic studio. We see how new staff at home and abroad get to grips with a unique set of ‘culture and values’ that has guided the company for 70 years. And we follow IKEA’s massive global expansion programme into India – a country that hasn’t yet been touched by the Swedish flat-pack revolution.

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Copyright: Julian Cooper and Fiona Harris Dr Fiona Harris - Senior Lecturer in Management 

Fiona is a Senior Lecturer in Management in the Department for Strategy and Marketing. Her doctoral research was in brand management. Prior to joining The Open University, Fiona held research posts in academic, governmental agency and commercial contexts, involving the development of a range of new technologies in vehicles, aircraft cockpit displays and human-computer interaction. She has authored teaching material on marketing, management, ethics, corporate social responsibility and brand management for a range of Open University modules, spanning all levels of the undergraduate programme through to postgraduate level. Her research interests and publications mainly concern ethical marketing practice, the application and impact of marketing principles in relation to health and sustainability, and branding.

Find out more about Fiona Harris

Copyright: Julian Cooper and Fiona Harris Julian Cooper - Associate Lecturer in Business, Creativity and Marketing

Julian joined The Open University as an Associate Lecturer in 2000, from where he had previously been awarded an BA [hons] and MBA. He lectures in business, creativity and marketing and was recently selected to tutor in the new Business Honours Apprenticeship degree.

His career includes heading Ordnance Surveys Market Research and Insight team, leading research projects for the World Bank (e.g. developing commercial resources, Namibia) and European Commission (e.g. Project owner, European Location Framework).

Julian has been involved in digital innovation and development for over two decades, working with Vodafone to research and develop new markets for mobile technology, conducting research into digital navigation technology (e.g. European Commission, EuroRoads) and has been a regular publisher and presenter in the digital industry. 

In 2016 he authored the FutureLearn module, The Digital Economy: Selling Through Customer Insight and is currently Learning Advisor on the Open University module, Managing in the Digital Economy. Julian is a Director of Tabula Limited, a business and marketing consultancy.

Find out more about Julian Cooper