21 IKEA product names that are actually places in Sweden
Have you ever wondered what your favorite IKEA products really mean? Half the joy of meandering through the showroom struggles to pronounce IKEA product names, but now Visit Sweden takes back every name in a new marketing campaign.
From NORBERG to BOLMEN, many of IKEA’s products are actually named after places in Sweden. Online searches for some of these iconic places give rise to towels, sofas and dustbins, which has caused “a lot of misunderstanding”, claims Visit Sweden.
“In Sweden, we are proud of IKEA and in a way you can say that they helped us make Swedish places world famous through the names they borrowed for their products. Now we want to show the originals behind the product names with warmth and a twinkle in the eye and invite the world to discover the whole of Sweden, says Nils Persson Marketing Manager Visit Sweden.
Ingvar Kamprad, IKEA’s late founder, developed a system for how IKEA names its products based on different categories. For example, bathroom items such as Bolmen’s toilet brush are named after Swedish lakes. Chairs and sofas – such as Järvfjället and Ektorp – are named after Swedish cities and villages, while the bookshelf Billy is named after IKEA employee Billy Likjedhal.
But now, through his Discover the originals campaign reveals Visit Sweden the hidden Swedish gems behind 21 IKEA product names.
With a spectacular natural environment, Sweden has almost 270,000 islands with 95,700 lakes, generous right of public access and a rich culture and long history. There is a lot to see, from Viking monuments to picturesque towns, castles and silver mines, making it an ideal holiday destination. Now Sweden wants to invite the world to visit these fantastic places and explore the country.
Take a look at the names Sweden wants to take back from IKEA …
NORBERG (white table)
We may know about IKEA’s space-saving white tables, but did you know that Norberg is actually the name of a place in Sweden? Known for its magnificent scenery, large castles and mysterious Blue Cave in Klackberg, there is much more in the name than a simple folding table.
MISTERHALT (light)
IKEA’s stylish and durable MISTERHALT lamp is made of bamboo, although Visit Sweden says that it is unlikely that you will discover the plant in the 2000-island archipelago Misterland, near Kalmar in Småland.
With only 203 registered inhabitants in 2010, the beautiful island is home to rare birds, idyllic views and fascinating flora and fauna. For a little more life, head south to visit the historic coastal town of Kalmar.
INGATORP (pull-out table)
Although it is known as the practical £ 250 pull-out dining table, Ingatorp is actually a historic village in Småland. Dating back to the 13th century, there is one of Sweden’s oldest wooden buildings, a fascinating agricultural museum and beautiful forests that look like Narnia after snowfall. The Ingatorp table may have a traditional feel, but the village has lots of traditions that will surely be enjoyed.
BOLMEN (toilet brush)
BOLMEN may be the name of IKEA’s classic toilet brush, but the Swedish retailer has borrowed the name from the beautiful lake Bolmen in Småland in southern Sweden – and it is much nicer than the brush.
“We appreciate that IKEA has named a product our beautiful lake and that Visit Sweden is paying attention to this globally. But now we want to show the world that Bolmen is so much more than an object that you clean your toilet with. It is an incredibly beautiful place, “We want to invite the whole world to spend time in our wonderful, unspoiled nature, show the same care as we do and enjoy the crystal clear water,” says Magnus Gunnarsson, chairman of Smålands Sjörike and councilor in Ljungby.
STUBBARP (adjustable legs)
STUBBARP – small adjustable legs for tables – is another name that Sweden recycles from IKEA. Named after Stubbarp in Skåne, the beautiful area has dramatic views, rocky beaches, steep cliffs and an eye-catching pink Kullen Stubbarp castle (above) that blooms impressively in the spring.
SKÄRHAMN (black door handle)
“A beautiful door handle may very well be the finishing touch to what your home needs, but if you are looking for natural beauty in nature, then Skärhamn is the right place to go,” says Visit Sweden.
If you are eager to explore the real Skärhamn, some of the things to keep an eye on are the unique landscape, fresh seafood, hiking trails, international art and lots of water activities.
- Bolmen, a large lake in the Småland region in southern Sweden (toilet brush)
- Järvfjället, a mountain in Swedish Lapland (game chair)
- Extorp, a suburb of Stockholm (sofa)
- Skärhamn, a fishing village on the island of Tjörn off the coast of western Sweden (door handle)
- Stubbarp, a manor house in Skåne in southern Sweden (cabinet legs)
- Kallax, a coastal village near Luleå in Swedish Lapland (storage shelf)
- Covers, one of Sweden’s most sparsely populated areas, a forest in the Värmland region (pendant lamp)
- Hemsjö, a town in the Blekinge area (block light)
- Toftan, a lake in Dalarna (trash can)
- Mästerby, a historic battlefield on Gotland (a stair stool)
- Voxnan, a river with waterfalls and rapids in the Hälsingland region (shower shelf)
- Himleån, ravines in the Halland region (bath towels)
- Laxviken, a village in Jämtland Härjedalen (cupboard door)
- Ingatorp, a village where you will find one of Sweden’s oldest wooden buildings, in the Småland region (pull-out table)
- Misterhult, an archipelago with 2,000 islands near Kalmar in the Småland region (a bamboo lamp)
- Vrena, a village near the east coast in the Sörmland region (countertop)
- Björksta, a village near the university city of Uppsala (picture with frame)
- Norberg, a small town in the Västmanland region (folding table)
- Askersund, a small town near Örebro in Central Sweden (cupboard door)
- Rimforsa, a small village in Östergötland in eastern Sweden (workbench)
- Bodviken, a mountain lake in the UNESCO World Heritage Site High Coast in northern Sweden (washbasin).
Discover the originals at visitsweden.com
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