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How does IKEA come up with names for its products?

ikea.com

171–180 of 342 posts

Re: How does IKEA come up with names for its products?

#171
post #169

> Every possible product name is carefully checked to avoid undesirable meanings in other languages, political or religious affiliations and fit into our global profile If I remember correctly, they had a desk named "JERKER" in early 2000s.

That's (sadly) a Swedish name, yes.

Re: How does IKEA come up with names for its products?

#172
post #151

> In other parts of the world, they are basically incomprehensible, but fun! For some reason unknown to either of us it really pisses off my wife when I refer to our IKEA furniture by the Swedish names. I think it stems from a deep seated disdain she has for flat pack furniture. Me: where’s the thing? Wife: in the white cupboard Me: which white cupboard? There are 6 Wife: the white cupboard opposite the piano Me: the…

This is exactly why the names work

Re: How does IKEA come up with names for its products?

#173
post #13

For a Swede it must seem kind of strange to understand the product names. You see an ACORN toy, a NIGEL bookshelf, and the CROYDON sofa... which sounds like it belongs in a council estate flat. Definately more fun would be the Polish version. How many people can pronounce the BYDGOSZCZ sofa, the PRZEMYSŁAW bookcase and the PSZCZOŁA soft toy?

IKEA Poland missed an opportunity here

Re: How does IKEA come up with names for its products?

#174
post #13

For a Swede it must seem kind of strange to understand the product names. You see an ACORN toy, a NIGEL bookshelf, and the CROYDON sofa... which sounds like it belongs in a council estate flat. Definately more fun would be the Polish version. How many people can pronounce the BYDGOSZCZ sofa, the PRZEMYSŁAW bookcase and the PSZCZOŁA soft toy?

IKEA Poland missed an opportunity here

Tak

Re: How does IKEA come up with names for its products?

#175
post #19

> contain between 4 and 12 letters PAX https://www.ikea.com/de/en/cat/pax-system-19086/

The exception that proves the rule :)

It reminds some system - they didn’t allow “other” category for sorting features, but someone came with “999” :)

Re: How does IKEA come up with names for its products?

#176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Chevy "no va" https://www.thoughtco.com/chevy-nova-that-wouldnt-go-3078090

You also have the Mitsubishi Pajero. Feel free to find the derogatory term in the wiki. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Pajero

Similar trivia with a Swedish connection: the original name of the Honda Fit/Jazz was Honda Fitta, but then they found out it's the Swedish word for "cunt" so that was a no-go.

Re: How does IKEA come up with names for its products?

#177
post #171
post #169

> Every possible product name is carefully checked to avoid undesirable meanings in other languages, political or religious affiliations and fit into our global profile If I remember correctly, they had a desk named "JERKER" in early 2000s.

That's (sadly) a Swedish name, yes.

I think it's a pretty cool name. But it's pronounced more like "Yeah"-rker.

Re: How does IKEA come up with names for its products?

#178
post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because it would then be pronounced IKE-Oh. Also, the A is short for Agunnaryd, the founder's hometown. (IK is his initials, Ingvar Kamprad, and E is for Elmtaryd, his family farm.)

The A can still stand for Agunnaryd and the circle at the top can be the midnight sun, which embodies the sprit of Sweden

To reiterate on another comment that would make no sense to Swedish speakers. Å is a distinct letter, with a different and unique vowel sound. It is in no way "a slightly different kind of A".

Your suggestion sounds a bit like spelling Apple like AIILE and using the circles to form a cool infinity symbol. Or something.

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