Latest news with #Ikea
BBC News
an hour ago
- Business
- BBC News
Young, curious and fun: Ikea was a playground for young designers
Ingvar Kamprad was just 17 years old when he set up a mail order sales business in flat-packed goods which could be assembled at home, he used his initials and his bearings at the family farm in Elmtaryd in the village of Agunnaryd in Sweden to create the name of his new business – decades later, Ikea is one of the biggest retailers in the world, known for its modernist approach, simple designs and customer even has its own museum – on the site of the first store in Almhult – which has curated an exhibition of iconic fabrics which celebrate the company's pioneering textile department. "At the beginning of the 60s Ingvar realised that what was missing was the textiles and colour which are so vital to the home," says the museum's curator Anna Sandberg Falk."So he brought in a bunch of really talented young women who knew the textile business – and because no-one really cared about textiles, they had a lot of freedom. They were young, and curious and they had a lot of fun." In 1962, IKEA hired Danish textile artist Bitten Hojmark and later Inger Nilsson who introduced new technology, bold patterns and the first Swedish version of the Natural Colour System. Developed by physicist Tryggve Johansson at Sweden's National Defence Research Institute, it uses a scientific approach to describe and reproduce colours accurately on a wide range of products and was an important breakthrough and artists such as Inez Svensson, Gota Tradgardh and Sven Fristedt revelled in their new-found colour palette - even if their designs weren't always instantly appealing."Randig Banan was created in the mid 80s. It was so brave and bold but it was considered to be something that would scare the customers away so it was hidden away under the table," says Anna Sandberg in 2013 as part of a temporary collection, it's become one of the company's most popular designs. Despite being one of many prints designed by Ines Svensson, it was the one she requested that her coffin be draped in and when she died at the age of 73. This was duly honoured. It has since inspired many designers including Ida Pettersson Preutz."I was 10 years old, and I think my sister introduced it to me because she bought it second hand and made a cushion of it, and I instantly fell in love with it, " she when she was commissioned to make a pattern around food in 2014, she channelled the same playfulness with her bright green broccoli motif on a background of wavy neon pink stripes." I always like to add a little twist, a twinkle in the eye in the patterns that I do. Something which makes people feel the same way I felt about striped bananas."Her design has pride of place among 180 textiles which feature in a new exhibition at Dovecot Studios in highlights the work of 10-gruppen – a collective of 10 Swedish designers founded in 1971 who rebelled against the small flowered textile norms of the early 70s in favour of bright colours and bold work was echoed in the 1996 advertising campaign "Chuck out the chintz". Dovecot's director Celia Joicey has been negotiating with Ikea Museum since it opened in 2016 and has secured the first touring exhibition."Dovecot is a tapestry studio so we make the finest fine-art textiles by hand which are expensive and exclusive to acquire so the idea that we could bring this element of democracy where there are fabrics that everybody can use and we can hang them as works of art is interesting," she says."Textile is an important medium for Scotland and it has a long history of taking design to the rest of the world. "But Swedish design has had a huge impact on the world, starting with the post war housing boom which saw 1.2 million homes being built in the UK in a very short space of time."The two very different design spaces hope this will be the start of a productive collaboration. The 180 textiles on show are just a fraction of those held in the Ikea Museum archive."I think we could do another 10 exhibitions like this," says Anna."There's so much to choose from."And for Ida Petterson, whose vibrant broccoli is the central image of the exhibition, it's an honour to be part of Swedish design history."It's a "pinch me" moment," she says."To have my work hanging alongside the designs which inspired it is lovely."Ikea: Magical Patterns is at Dovecot Studios until 17 January 2026
Otago Daily Times
an hour ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Ikea cagey about opening date for first NZ store this year
By Amy Williams of RNZ Global furniture giant Ikea is due to open its first New Zealand store in Auckland some time this year, but has not yet told Auckland Council when. Ikea said it was still on track to open at Sylvia Park and had so far employed 85 of the 500 staff it needed. Within at least two months of opening, Ikea has to provide the council with an opening date and managment plan, but a council spokesperson confirmed it was still waiting to receive this information. The consent conditions for the big box retailer required it to submit an plan that detailed how it would manage the anticipated crowds expected to drive there. "No less than two months prior to the scheduled opening date of the Ikea store, the consent holder must prepare and submit a store opening management plan to Auckland Council for written certification," the consent decision stated. "The purpose of the plan is to set out the measures to be adopted to manage effects on the transportation network during the first three months following the opening of the store." Ikea has yet to announce its opening day, but indicated it would be in time for Christmas. The council indicated that, before an official store opening, it wanted Ikea to open online to manage anticipated demand and have a soft opening to test traffic management. It advised Ikea to avoid opening on public holidays, Fridays, weekends, Black Friday or Boxing Day. The council asked Ikea to provide details about "incentives to travel to the site by transport modes other than private vehicle, such as bus, train and active modes", as well as "comprehensive information provided to the public on travel routes to and from the store". Ikea must provide at least 54 bicycle parks and 543 carparks, and submit a travel plan to the council that shows how it would encourage employees and customers to use public transport, walk or cycle to the store. Construction began on the 34,000sq m store in 2023 and the iconic blue building is taking shape at Sylvia Park. The ground level will be a carpark, with the store spread across two floors, including its Swedish restaurant that will sell meatballs and hotdogs. The retailer is still recruiting for its anticipated. Ikea people and culture manager Lauren Clegg said 15,000 people had applied for advertised roles by the end of May. She said 85 people had been employed so far and more roles would be advertised this month, attracting thousands of applicants. "There does seem to be a lot of people that are between jobs at the moment or struggling to get into work," she said. "I think we're in a really tough time in New Zealand, with the market at the moment, and that's probably contributing to some of our numbers." Clegg said the Ikea opening had caused excitement. "We're definitely on track to open late 2025, but the exact opening date is very under wraps for now." Ikea would continue to release and advertise for roles until November.
Otago Daily Times
an hour ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Ikea cagey about opening date for first NZ store
By Amy Williams of RNZ Global furniture giant Ikea is due to open its first New Zealand store in Auckland some time this year, but has not yet told Auckland Council when. Ikea said it was still on track to open at Sylvia Park and had so far employed 85 of the 500 staff it needed. Within at least two months of opening, Ikea has to provide the council with an opening date and managment plan, but a council spokesperson confirmed it was still waiting to receive this information. The consent conditions for the big box retailer required it to submit an plan that detailed how it would manage the anticipated crowds expected to drive there. "No less than two months prior to the scheduled opening date of the Ikea store, the consent holder must prepare and submit a store opening management plan to Auckland Council for written certification," the consent decision stated. "The purpose of the plan is to set out the measures to be adopted to manage effects on the transportation network during the first three months following the opening of the store." Ikea has yet to announce its opening day, but indicated it would be in time for Christmas. The council indicated that, before an official store opening, it wanted Ikea to open online to manage anticipated demand and have a soft opening to test traffic management. It advised Ikea to avoid opening on public holidays, Fridays, weekends, Black Friday or Boxing Day. The council asked Ikea to provide details about "incentives to travel to the site by transport modes other than private vehicle, such as bus, train and active modes", as well as "comprehensive information provided to the public on travel routes to and from the store". Ikea must provide at least 54 bicycle parks and 543 carparks, and submit a travel plan to the council that shows how it would encourage employees and customers to use public transport, walk or cycle to the store. Construction began on the 34,000sq m store in 2023 and the iconic blue building is taking shape at Sylvia Park. The ground level will be a carpark, with the store spread across two floors, including its Swedish restaurant that will sell meatballs and hotdogs. The retailer is still recruiting for its anticipated. Ikea people and culture manager Lauren Clegg said 15,000 people had applied for advertised roles by the end of May. She said 85 people had been employed so far and more roles would be advertised this month, attracting thousands of applicants. "There does seem to be a lot of people that are between jobs at the moment or struggling to get into work," she said. "I think we're in a really tough time in New Zealand, with the market at the moment, and that's probably contributing to some of our numbers." Clegg said the Ikea opening had caused excitement. "We're definitely on track to open late 2025, but the exact opening date is very under wraps for now." Ikea would continue to release and advertise for roles until November.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Who did this guy become?' This creator quit his job and lost his TikTok audience
If you've built an audience around documenting your 9-to-5 online, what happens after you hand in your notice? This new tax deduction in Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' lets people cash in on charitable donations up to $2,000. Here's what to know These are the 3 best questions to ask at the end of your job interview Ikea is launching new smart home products, and they're designed to be extra easy to use That's the conundrum facing Connor Hubbard, aka ' a creator who amassed a huge following by sharing the mundane details of his corporate life as a senior analyst at a Fortune 500 company. In April 2024, The Guardian dubbed him 'the most boring man on the internet,' with some of his most popular videos showing viewers his lunch breaks and daily 9-to-5 routine. The internet couldn't get enough. 'It just seemed to get a lot of traction, because I think most of the world is working,' he told GQ in an interview. 'They have to work for a living. They can't all be influencers.' Then he quit. Not for another job, but to become a full-time influencer. Clips from a recent livestream began circulating after Hubbard told viewers he wouldn't answer questions unless they sent him a 'Galaxy,' a TikTok gift that costs 1,000 coins, or about $13. Unsurprisingly, this didn't go over well with fans. 'We need studies on the downfall of Hubs Life,' one TikTok user posted. 'Who did this guy become?' Hubbard has fallen into the relatability trap—one that often trips up influencers who go viral by sharing their ordinary lives. As their follower count grows, their lifestyle—as well as their content—inevitably shifts. Maybe it's a bigger house, more lavish brand trips, or, in Hubbard's case, quitting the job that made him famous in the first place. Suddenly, the content no longer reflects what drew the audience in. 'He left his 6-figure job FOR THIS,' one person commented. 'This storyline would be a good Black Mirror episode,' another added. (Fast Company has reached out to Hubbard for comment.) For audiences, watching their favorite influencers change in real time can feel disheartening—sometimes even like a betrayal. The backlash can be swift and harsh, or fans simply lose interest and move on. 'Hubs Life assumed people loved him, not the content,' another TikTok user observed. The internet is rarely forgiving, especially when followers feel responsible for someone's rise. It's a lesson Hubbard is learning the hard way. As one particularly brutal comment put it: 'We made the wrong person famous.' This post originally appeared at to get the Fast Company newsletter: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Times
a day ago
- Times
I've lived in Spain for 35 years — these places welcome tourists
The figures are extraordinary: 94 million tourists in 2024 and more expected this year. As are the scenes of furious Spaniards firing at visitors with water pistols in protest. No less extraordinary, however, is just how much of Spain — almost twice the size of the UK — remains untouched by tourism. While it is true that certain areas of Barcelona, San Sebastian and Palma de Mallorca now have more avocado-toast brunch bars, luggage lockers and Ikea-decorated short-let apartments than seems reasonable, whole swathes of the country are not only tolerant of tourism but happy to receive a good deal more of it. Staying ahead of the hordes is simple enough: the trick is to cast your net wide across this hugely diverse country. Unfold an old-fashioned printed map and consider the lush green hills and sweeping beaches of Galicia; the moon-like deserts of Aragon; the forests of Extremadura in the far west, where blackfoot pigs virtually outnumber people. Whole regions of Spain are puzzlingly absent from British bucket lists — examples being Castilla y León, with its pungent historic legacy and powerful red wines; or the province of Teruel, empty of people yet bursting with character. Each of the 50 provincial capitals has its own heritage and personality, and of these only a handful — Cordoba, Girona, Toledo — have a substantial tourism infrastructure; in Albacete, Soria, Badajoz or Lugo it's unusual to hear a foreign voice. Here are some great destinations to try where you won't be in the firing line. My top tip for a Barcelona substitute would be Zaragoza, capital of Aragon and a festive, hospitable town that for the moment is not complaining about overtourism. The fifth largest Spanish city, it stands beside the mighty Ebro River, the towers of its great basilica rising proudly above the water. On your to-do list here might be the medieval architecture of the old town, the rumbustious wine-and-tapas scene in El Tubo district — a maze of streets with an estimated 60 tapas bars — and Zaha Hadid's twisty bridge over the Ebro, built as part of the city's Expo 2008 celebrations. Also not to be missed are the works by Francisco de Goya, an Aragon native, at Museo Goya. Stay at the chic-and-cheerful Hotel Avenida, with white rustic-minimalist rooms and a courtyard decorated with cacti in B&B doubles from £69 ( Fly to Zaragoza • The northeastern Spanish city with a surprising tapas scene Of course it's not quite Seville — nothing could equal the dreamlike beauty of the Andalusian capital's cobbled streets and squares perfumed with orange blossom. But Jaen has beauties of its own — plus a low tourist presence of which stressed-out Sevillanos can only dream. Among the dun-coloured rooftops of the its historic quarter stands the twin-towered façade of a mighty Renaissance cathedral — the masterpiece of the local architect Andrés de Vandelvira. A medieval bathhouse, discovered by chance in the 1970s, is a fascinating relic of the city's Moorish past. With its rabbit-warren of whitewashed alleys, churches, convents and time-worn taverns (try the Taberna Cassa Gorrion, where locals take their late-morning snifters along with a plate of raw broad beans and a hunk of cheese), the old town is like Seville without the souvenir shops. Stay at the Parador, in a castle high above the city, and dine at the Michelin-starred Baga, for many the best restaurant in town, with dishes such as Motril shrimps with shiitake mushrooms or smoked eel with pear (tasting menu £85; B&B doubles from £132 ( Fly to Granada Done San Sebastian? Remember there is another Basque town — capital of the region and Alava province — that is one of the best places in Spain to live. Slow-paced, affable Vitoria-Gasteiz offers a pintxo scene to rival that of San Sebastian and the Virgen Blanca, an annual fiesta that can out-party San Fermin in Pamplona (August 6 to 9; — and nary an Australian tourist in sight. A green belt of carefully preserved park-like countryside surrounds the city centre. When you're done with the historic centre, with its palaces and plazas, drive into the rolling wine country of Rioja Alavesa, known as the Tuscany of Spain. Stay at urban bolt hole La Casa de los Arquillos, which has simple, smart rooms and studios beside the central Plaza de la Virgen Blanca. Details Room-only doubles from £69 ( Fly to Bilbao • The unsung Spanish city that's a great alternative to San Sebastian The northern regions of Spain are increasingly the subject of scrutiny among foreign visitors worried about soaring temperatures on the southern coast. Asturias is filling up fast, but Cantabria remains a summer destination that many would prefer to keep under their sombreros. This autonomous community has it all: verdant hills, soaring peaks, rustic villages, historic towns and a good number of the country's most pristine beaches. Ferries from the UK connect directly with the elegant capital, Santander — a place to spend at least a few days (check out the Centro Botín art museum, designed by Renzo Piano, on the harbourside) before heading east towards the seaside towns of Laredo and Castro Urdiales. The 180-mile Cantabria coastline has beaches as sweeping and spectacular as Arnia, Oyambre and the surf-tastic Somo. On the two-and-a-half-mile stretch of sand at Trengandin, backed by dunes and forest, finding a space for your towel will never be a problem. Stay at the Helguera Palacio, a 17th-century country house 20 minutes' drive from the sea, with 11 elegant rooms and a pool overlooking the B&B doubles from £264 ( Fly or take the ferry to Santander Finding alternatives to the overcrowded Spanish islands is a challenge. Even on Menorca — once the low-profile Balearic, where mass tourism was kept firmly under control — there have been protests and mutterings about visitor numbers. The Canary island of La Palma has resisted excessive tourism, and combines low-key pleasures with big-screen thrills — botanists, horticulturists, ramblers and stargazers will find much to enjoy here. Explore towns such as Garafia and Tazacorte, where you will find traditional houses with sash windows and clay-tiled roofs, or hike along the island's more than 600 miles of signposted paths, the most demanding of which — the 15-mile Ruta de los Volcanes — follows its central spine from north to south. Stay at the Faro Punta Cumplida, a converted lighthouse on a volcanic outcrop. Details B&B doubles from £251 ( Fly to La Palma Much of what makes Valencia a massively popular destination can also be found in Murcia. Yet this handsome provincial city, inland from the southeast coast, shows little sign of tourist-tiredness and visitors are welcomed with open arms. Stroll along the banks of the Segura River towards the Floridablanca Gardens, where families congregate in the shade of century-old ficus trees. Shop at the Mercado de Veronicas, an early 20th-century modernist building with the soul of a genuine Spanish produce market, free of the gawping selfie-snappers that have spoilt the Mercat Central in Valencia. The tapas scene in Murcia, based on vegetables grown in the market gardens surrounding the city, is a powerful draw — head for the Plaza de las Flores to feast on marineras (a combo of ensaladilla and cured anchovy on a breadstick). Stay at the Rincon de Pepe, a classic Murcian establishment with neat rooms near the glorious baroque B&B doubles from £116 ( Fly to Murcia Guadalajara province, in Castilla-La Mancha, is an hour's drive northeast of downtown Madrid, yet it might be said to suffer from 'undertourism' — indeed, you can drive for many miles here without seeing another car. Single-track roads wind between ancient forests of oak and juniper; it is said that the Iberian wolf, once almost extinct, has returned to this wilderness. Overlooked by the brooding peaks of the Sierra Norte, the landscape is peppered with the astonishing black villages of Guadalajara — so called because their houses and churches are built of slate. Meander between Campillo de Ranas, Majaelrayo and Roblelacasa, stopping for a simple lunch of chargrilled beef or stewed lentils at Los Manzanos in Campillejo — one of only a handful of eating places in the area (mains from £3.50). Sparsely populated, these silent villages suggest that some parts of Spain could do with more tourism, not less. Stay in Campillejo at Casa Rural El Roble Hueco, a villa with eight double en suites and beds and cots for One night's self-catering for 18 from £649 ( Fly to Madrid
