Did you ever wonder how IKEA finds name for all the furniture they sell? They have Kramfors, Imfors, Håbol, Leksvik, Hemnes, Sandnes, Roskilde, Björkudden, Kaustby, Helmer, Elmrik and many thousand more.
Well, wonder no more – it has been revealed. And Denmark is considering going to war with Sweden over it (not really, of course, but it`s been added to the list Swedish insults to Denmark).
Scandinavia and the World
IKEA`s name rules
These are the rules IKEA uses when the company finds names for new products:
- Places in Sweden: Couches, low tables, storage boxes
- Places in Norway: Beds, wardrobes, hall furniture
- Places in Denmark: Rugs, mats
- Places in Finland: Tables, chairs
- Old male names: Pedestals on wheels
- Urban male names: Office chairs
- Islands, lakes, waters: Shelves, bathroom closets
- Adjectives: Drawer interiors
- Animals (their Swedish names): Products for kids
Denmark = a rug???
The reactions to this have mainly been Danish. Denmark is a rug? Denmark is something you walk on? Denmark is a doormat?
The official reply from IKEA to this is very diplomatic: We felt that Denmark is strong enough to carry us all. Those Swedes … cute as ever 🙂
Is this Denmark?
Exceptions
IKEA has 9,500 different products and I have to add that there are exceptions to these rules, like the bookcase Billy (the name sounds very much like “billig”, which means cheap, and I suspect this is the reason for the name).
Read more about IKEA`s product names. (in Swedish).
haha I saw it this morning! I thought it was funny ^^
My name is curtain!! xD
IKEA hasn`t named anything after me *sob* but we do have a couple of chairs with my husband`s name on them 🙂
And at least I`m not a doormat.
LOL! I love this. I can just imagine the realization that Denmark is a rug went over very well with no gaping mouths and bugging eyes. XO
Oh yes. Denmark the doormat 🙂
I have a Billy – doesn’t everyone?
I know I do. And it was pretty “billig” 🙂
Lol. This was too funny! Thank you for sharing!
You`re welcome. Thank you for commenting 🙂
That’s interesting. Doesn’t the same word “billig” mean “cheap” in German, too? My husband detests IKEA. He was so incredibly pissed off to find out that after years of running all the way through their “lab rat maze”, there are actually SHORT CUTS!! lol.
Oh, and he also used to tease me that if I loved IKEA so much, we could name our kids after their products. He was particularly interested in a small mirror named Klud! 😉
It is the same word in German but they also pronounce the last letter. We don`t so our “billig” really is pronounced “billy”. I`ve always found it pretty funny to say that my house has cheap furniture 🙂
Lol, at your husband finding the short cuts after years of running around in the maze. I always look for the short cuts first because I get seriously nervous as walking in those long lines following the lemmings around the maze. I probably spend more time at IKEA running back and forth but I *have to* use the short cuts to keep my sanity (or at least, what`s left of it).
“This is my son Klud and my daughter Roskilde”. I can picture that 🙂
Oh, they are definitely having ‘go’ at Denmark. This friendly banter reminds me of New Zealand versus Australia. ( Well I guess r!elations between Dk and Se were not so friendly once. And no places in Iceland. Just as well they don’t make toilet cisterns –
You will like this http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24306964
You should do a football post! 🙂
Oh, I loved it! Thank you very much *hugs*
And I`ll certainly try and think of a football angle 😀
I like this 🙂 Five star! http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24098632
Let me just step out and giggle a little bit 😀
After today you should definitely do a footie post – great win, well done 🙂 🙂 🙂
😀 😀 😀