Oliver Smith reports in the Telegraph:
“The firm hopes to lure 200,000 DIY fanatics to the town of Älmhult, around 60 miles north of Malmo, when the attraction opens next year.
“‘The first IKEA store was opened here in Älmhult, and in 2012 it moved to a new site. That gives us the opportunity to use this building for a museum,’ Michele Acuna, managing director for the site, told AFP.
“The attraction would celebrate the history of the company, which was founded in 1943 by 17-year-old Ingvar Kamprad and now employs 139,000 people. Despite the seemingly mundane nature of flat-pack furniture, Acuna said she was confident the museum would appeal to tourists. ‘We have seen that there is a lot of interest in our history of 70 years,’ she said, citing frequent visits from Danish, German and Dutch travellers.
“‘We intend to tell stories not only on our product range but also on how the IKEA business developed and about people, and of course to give a fun and interactive experience to visitors,’ she added.”
