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Education: NA
Peddled matches, fish, pens, Christmas cards and
other items by bicycle as a teenager. Started
selling furniture in 1947. Opened first Ikea
store 50 years ago; stores's name is a
combination of initials of his first and last
name, his family farm and the nearest village.
Retired in 1986; company's "senior adviser"
still reportedly works tirelessly on his brand.
Discount retailer now sells 9,500 items in 36
countries; prints catalog in 27 languages.
Revenues up 7% to $27.4 billion in fiscal year
2008. Opened tenth store in China this February;
planning to open first in Dominican Republic
later this year. Three sons all work at the
company. Thrifty entrepreneur flies economy
class, frequents cheap restaurants and furnishes
his home mostly with Ikea products.
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