Ingvar Kamprad, IKEA Founder
c/o Inter IKEA Systems B.V.
Olof Palmestraat 1
NL-2616 LN Delft
The Netherlands
Dear Mr. Kamprad:
As I write this your eightieth birthday is three days away. By the time you receive this letter you will be enjoying fond memories of celebratory festivities. Based on an article I just read about you, the bash will probably be modest, with a homemade cake and a few friends. I will raise a toast to you on Thursday. I owe you that much, as wherever I happen to be sitting in my apartment I am always on an IKEA chair. In fact, a good eighty percent of my furniture is from your store, plus some housewares and a fabulous crawl-through tunnel for my little one.
I am happy to read on your site that you maintain a vision of “social and environmental responsibility.” In so many areas of life one needs to be rich to “do right” by our planet. Organic food and goods are prohibitively expensive for many people, as are items that are made without sweatshop labor. It’s nice to see that you are setting a good example in your business practices and in your lifestyle.
There is a story in today’s news about a student in Iowa who stayed at a Wal-Mart during spring break. He spent three days there without leaving at all! If I were to take on such an endeavor, I would do so at IKEA. Sometimes after shopping there I feel as though I have.
Happy birthday! If you are ever in California you can crash on my Ektorp sofa bed.
Truly,
Liz Mann
