IKEA- the success-story

Everyone knows what IKEA is, but do you really know what it stands for? IKEA is acronym for Ingvar Kamprad Emtartyd Agunnaryd. Emtaryd is former name of a farm where Ingvar Kamprad (the founder  of IKEA) grew up in, Agunnaryd is the small village name where the farm was situated. IKEA now is global furniture’s warehouse with present in 36 countries worldwide.

The story of IKEA really started with Ingvar Kamprad the young entrepreneur out from Småland (a region to the east side of Gothenburg by the Baltic Sea). Already from a young age Ingvar Kamprad was business minded and known to be very spare some with his money. After a couple of earlier small businesses he started to work at NK (nordiska companies) in Stockholm where he saw the potential of selling unassembled furniture’s to low prices and then let the buyers themselves do the work. By doing so it’s easier to transport the furniture’s and cut costs. At first IKEA only sold by post orders with their traditional catalogues until 1958 when the first IKEA warehouse started in Älmhult (pretty close to Gothenburg) in 1958.The second warehouse started in Stockholm at Kungenskurva and when it started

it was probably one of the biggest warehouses the world has yet seen in 1965. The IKEA concept worked perfect for the main stream consumers, always delivering great value to customers to low prices. IKEA later on followed their success and went on to start expanding out to the rest of world during the 70s and in now present in 36 countries with its 294 warehouses. Turnover in the end of the fiscal year 08 was 21.2 billion Euros maintaining a growth in turnover in the past five years. Most of IKEA purchases are still made in Europe in general but China is also a very important manufacturing partner for IKEA providing 21% of all purchases.

IKEA has throughout decades always kept their Swedish touch even in foreign countries; at IKEA you can always get some real traditional Swedish meatballs with lingon berries other traditional Swedish cuisine.

IKEA is one of the Sweden biggest retailing successes of Sweden along with H&M. What’s really makes IKEA is also much caused to their employees, everyone at IKEA is feels such a great bond and is always very happy to help out.

IKEA is controlled today by Ingvar Kamprad in the Netherlands of his Holding parent company called INGKA who also owns many of the manufactures who makes the furniture’s. The IKEA group is today still not a public company enlisted on any of the big stock markets and always holds a very low profile about their internal financial status.

// Yining Misi.se Team 2010

I must confess I was really struggling to come up with a good topic for today’s article. But then mum suggested I should write about camels… Well, not really, though. What she actually said was ‘camellias’, but just as in English, camels and camellias can sound really alike in Swedish when uttered quickly. While there are no camels in Gothenburg for me to write about (as far as I know, anyway), there are camellias, and so I shall devote this article to Tage Andersson’s touring camellia exhibition.

Although not a camellia, it is at least a flower (I did not have any photographs of camellias).

Years ago, when my brother and I were still little, mum took us to see Mr Andersen’s camellia exhibition when it came to Gothenburg. As I was too young at the time to have any recollection now of ever having seen the flowers, I feel oddly intrigued and curious to see his exhibition now that it returns to Gothenburg. When it was last here, in 2004, some 20 000 people went to see it. Obviously, I missed it at that time, but the number of visitors suggests that if you are at all interested in flowers and plants, the exhibition may be well worth a visit.

Although I know very little about camellias, I understand that some of them can grow quite tall. Indeed, several metres tall, if the information I have found is accurate. Amongst the more than one hundred camellias that Mr. Andersen has brought with him, some are between three to four metres tall! On Wikipedia, the camellia plant family – which consists of some 100-250 different species – includes evergreen shrubs as well as trees, which should account for the varying heights.

Mr Andersen’s camellias are on display at Trädgårdsföreningen between 6 March and 5 April. The music played in the background, in case you go and are wondering, should be Verdi’s opera La Traviata. Apparently there’s a connection between camellias and La Traviata, but Trädgårdsföreningen was not very specific on their website as to the exact nature of that connection.

So, for those of you who are eagerly awaiting the spring season and cannot wait any longer, there are flowers to be seen at Trädgårdsföreningen!

P.S.
Should you happen to see any camels in Gothenburg, please drop me a note so that I may write about that next week!

Information

• The exhibition is in Palmhuset, Trädgårdsföreningen (map).
• They are open daily between 11 AM and 6 PM.
• The entrance fee is 60 SEK.

/Nils, Misi.se team 2010

GBG celebrates women with arm-wrestling World Challenge

March 8 is International Women’s Day, and this year marks the 100 year anniversary. In Gothenburg, the day is celebrated in strong fashion.

On Monday, the world’s best female arm wrestlers will be competing in the World Challenge at the Museum of World Culture (Världkulturmuseet). The competition is the largest of its kind and will feature seven-time world champion and organiser Heidi Andersson, as well as ten-time and reigning world champion Russian Irina Makeeva.

- In Sweden we take it for granted that women are strong, proud elite athletes, but that is far from reality in many places of the world, said Heidi Andersson in a press release.

The day will also include seminars, lectures and exhibitions on the theme: power, strength and justice. And there will even be lessons from the pros if you are interested in trying your arm.

The competitions start at 13.00 and continues through until 19:00. Tickets are 100 kronor for adults and 50 kronor for children.

// Goteborgdaily

After work is a brilliant concept for poor students. Even though Gothenburg might not be the best student city in Sweden, the Gothenburg After work culture is extraordinary. The concept After work might have a slightly different meaning in different countries, something I discovered when an After work in France meant suits, champagne and a 6 euro wardrobe fee. In Sweden AW is rather synonymous with cheap beer, free buffet and crowding, and the dress code is normally quite informal.

First of all- if you are not confortable with having dinner five a’clock in the afternoon, AW is nothing for you. If you learn to handle it, AW could serve as a great way of getting a good party night out with your friends, but still be in shape the next day (by starting early and finish early). Of course there are also those who consider AW a great pre-preparty, before going back home, getting some rest, having another dinner and some more beers before starting the night. However you like to go out for it, there are some things you need to know.

The normal after work deal says “buy something to drink- get free food”. The food quality can vary from overboiled broccoli and bread to Parma ham and brie, depending on after work place- that is why you need to find your favourite spots. You also need to be there in time, both to get a table and to get something to eat- if the food is for free there are no guarantees. Here are some of the best AW in Gothenburg:

• Excet, Vasagatan 52- Fridays 17:00-22:00. Tasty buffet, delicious cocktails and good prices! (Age limit 22)
• Lotus bar, Linnégatan 47- Fridays 16:00-20:00. A more fancy place with a luxury Champagne After work including cheeses and Parma ham, for 95 kr.
• Notting Hill, Nordhemsgatan 19A - Fridays 16:30-19:30. A cosy English Pub in the heart of Linnéstaden, with a free and mostly vegetarian buffet.
• RumpanBar, Linnégatan 38B- 16:00-19:00. Always crowded so arrive early. Free buffet including delicious stone oven baked pizza, among other things! Age limit 23.
• MiCasa bar, Vasagatan 32- Tuesday to Thursday 17:00-19:00. A cosy restaurant/ bar which offers a tasty tapas plate + 1 beer/wine for 79 kr.

If you have other AW tips you want to share with the Misi.se readers- please write a comment!

/ Sanna, Misi.se team 2010

This is a good opportunity if you are a Masters student and interested in Business Development and working in a challenging global environment.

Business Process Analysis and Strategic Positioning of Business in Europe

Synopsis
The fact that there is a constant demand for better and more efficient ways of doing business is the driving factor. This Master Thesis is performed to investigate if it is possible to achieve the expected Turn Around Time(TAT) and Quality of Service working with a company that is not in the same geography. An auxiliary purpose is to present a model that illuminates the important factors of outsourcing derived from market analysis in the representative geography. By analysing and recognising similarities in business processes and decision support requirements in other firms in the representative geography, QBurst Technologies Ltd aims to create business specific packages of its software solution.The core area of expertise is web and mobile application development. So, an interest in IT and India is an added advantage.

Expected Deliverables
The report should include a market overview analysis of the representative geography’s market as well as an analysis of future business opportunities for QBurst. Based on the business processes and decision support requirements of the existing vendors, firms, a positioning strategy for QBurst’s service oriented architecture, services and products on the European market should be developed. The positioning strategy should include a detailed analysis of similarities and differences in other firms in the market. Finally, a market entry strategy for QBurst, alone, or in collaboration or in partnership with a local firm should be included.

Requirements
The candidates should have a very good academic track record and theoretical background in analysis methodology. They should also have the drive to excel and an interest in the emerging technology as well as industrial organisation and management. Applicants are believed to have an academic background in business studies or the equivalent.The analytical work will require close contact with carrier relation management predominantly in Europe. Thus, strong interpersonal skills and fluency in English is a requirement. Fluency in a third language and an interest in Indian culture are also beneficial.

Who needs to apply?
European Management students who are interested in Business Development.

How many can get selected?
Students native to Italy, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Portugal, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Germany, Spain, Czech Republic, Greece and Sweden can apply. One/two student(s) will be selected to conduct the thesis from each country independently or as a team of two.

Why this could be interesting for you?
Performing a Business feasibility analysis for a worldwide company like QBurst Technologies will give you the unique opportunity to get out there in the Market and explore the endless possibilities in Business Development. If we are pleased with the opportunities explored, appropriate remuneration will be offered — this might even result in collaboration.

For more information and specifics on the Thesis subject, please contact: Ravi Jay (ravi@qburst.com)
Visit QBurst at www.qburst.com

An unofficial sport – Synchronized skating.

Teams from around the world taking part in a thrilling contest under way in two days. On the 12 and 13th of Mars right here in Gothenburg, in the new iceskating rink at Frölundaborg, the 2010 World Championship competition will be hold!

Synchronized skating consists of the 16 individual skaters strive to go as close-as possible in harmony with the music in different formations such as circles, lines, wheels and blocks. The music may be vocal. As in the other figure skating disciplines performed two different programs in races – short program and friprogrammet.

On Friday 12 Mars, starting at 17.00 the short program  starts and on Saturday at 16.00  its the final contest with freeskiing.

Come and feel the atmosphere by booking their seats in the grandstand separate Sweden – and join the Swedish squad

To book your tickets click here or read more about Synchronized skating here!

Have fun!!

// Misi.se

Are you a creative and outgoing international student?

Become a blogger on Misi.se!

Misi.se is a dynamic project that offers a great part time student association qualification and a good experience working within a project that includes IT, planning, marketing and development questions. The Misi.se team includes both Swedish and international students, which offers you a great oppotunity to practice your English and Swedish.

Send us an e-mail and tell us about yourself: reachus@misi.se

Best regards

Welcome to Språkpunkten- Language Exchange

Tuesday the 9th of March.

The first language café of this semester was a great success!  If you missed it you will get a new chance next week: The student buddies of Haga Exchange Group and FFS offer you an opportunity to meet new friends, practice the languages you are learing and of course, eat cheap delicious home-baked cakes and cookies!

The ambition with Språkpunkten is to facilitate language learing through fun and relaxed meetings between Swedish students and Erasmus students. Språkpunkten can also be seen as a possibility to establish contacts for futur language exchange between students of different nationalities. If you just want to pass by to see your friends, meet the student buddies and have a coffee, you are welcome as well!

18.00-21.00 Tuesday 9th of March

Sociologen’s Café Sprängkulle  Sprängkullsgatan 23

Of course, the opera house is the best place to experience opera in Gothenburg. But every once in a while, there is this golden chance to see opera on a smaller, more intimate scale. As luck would have it, one such moment is about to present itself on Sunday, when student musicians at the Academy of Music and Drama join forces with opera students for a chamber performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s Falstaff.

The Opera House in Gothenburg.

Naturally, I would recommend a visit to the opera house at some point, because when it comes to grand stage productions in Gothenburg, nothing beats the opera house. A good seat close to the stage is, admittedly, expensive, but there are seats available in the hall for less than 100 SEK. Although it may be difficult to see clearly everything that happens on the stage from these seats, especially finer details such as facial expressions and similar, I have it on good authority that the sound should be excellent regardless of where in the opera house you are (as a subscriber, I usually sit very close to the stage).

One of the amazing things about opera, is the lack of amplification. Sure, opera houses are specifically designed for breathtaking acoustics, but there is no mechanical or electrical amplification involved. Indeed, I had proof of that one day as I was waiting outside the opera house for a friend of mine. One of the singers at the opera house was on his way to work, warming up his voice as he walked. I happened to hear him as he approached the opera house and originally I thought him quite close to me. When I turned round, though, I found that he was still quite a long distance away. His voice really carried extraordinarily well, even in the open air outside the opera house.

With all that said, though, it is a rare opportunity to see and listen to opera up close. I have a most vivid memory of the time when I heard Thomas Lind perform Nessun Dorma just two metres away from where I stood during a foyer concert at the opera house. That was a fantastic experience that I would love to experience again.

On Sunday, fifteen musicians and opera students will perform Falstaff in what promises to be a much more intimate performance than you could ever hope for at the opera house. We may not see the same level of grandeur as that of the opera house’s large-scale productions, but being much closer to the action, so to speak, should more than make up for that.

Information:

Falstaff is performed at Artisten (map) on the following dates and times:

• Sunday, 7 March, 3pm
• Monday, 8 March, 7pm
• Wednesday, 10 March, 7pm
• Friday, 12 March, 7pm
• Sunday, 14 March, 3pm

The ticket fee is 100SEK
Tickets may be bought via:

• The website – www.hsm.gu.se (Swedish)
• Email – write an email to biljett@hsm.gu.se with you name, telephone number, the name of the performance and the number of tickets you wish to buy.
• Artisten – I am fairly certain you can buy the tickets directly at Artisten. They should be open weekdays between 2-3pm.

About the opera:

• Falstaff was first performed in 1893, at La Scala in Milan.
• The opera was adapted by Arrigo Boito from Shakespeare’s plays The Merry Wives of Windsor and scenes from Henry the IV.
• Falstaff is a comic opera.
• For more information and synopsis visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falstaff_(opera)

If you are interested in opera, you may also want to visit the opera house’s website at http://en.opera.se/

/Nils, Misi.se team 2010

Welcome to Medspråk!

Practice your Swedish and learn more about Gothenburg, Sweden and the swedes!

Just drop in any time you like and practice to speak Swedish.

Any level, any nationality, all students from all schools and others are more then welcome. Whether you are staying here for a short or a long time.

We divide into small groups 50/50 Swedish and others, so that everyone will get the best chance to speak as much as possible.

We will give and get tips on what to do, where to go and take up any subject that interest you.

You may bring anyone.

Free of charge.

Tram/bus stop: Kapellplatsen.

Landalagången 3 (The French School) Mon-Thurs 17-18.30

Go up the stairs after the Pharmacy, turn right into the schoolyard, there is a big blue sign “Medborgarskolan”.

Up 1 floor.

Want more info, contact: susanna_walfridsson@msn.com