As IKEA celebrates 50 years of helping Australians create a better life at home, new research shows 87% of Aussies have visited a “big blue box” and more than 80% own at least one iconic flatpack item.
“What better way to thank our loyal customers, young and old, than with the bespoke, IKEA FLIP FLÖPS – a playful blend of Swedish design and the Australian love for flip flops. It’s our way of saying thank you – and a reminder that after 50 years, we’re just getting started”
– Mirja Viinanen, IKEA Australia CEO and Chief Sustainability Officer
To celebrate 50 years of IKEA Down Under – and five decades of icons like the BILLY Bookcase and KLIPPAN sofa in Australian homes – IKEA is saying thank you to its Aussie customers with the launch of the world’s first-ever flat-packed flip flops.
The hyper-limited IKEA FLIP FLÖPS are the first flat-pack fashion accessory of its kind, requiring a simple three-step assembly. The footwear is the perfect way for IKEA to celebrate this milestone, blending design innovation and Scandinavian style with quintessential Aussie culture.
Since opening its first store at St Leonards in Sydney in 1975, IKEA has become an integral part of Australian homes – bringing Swedish design and clever, affordable solutions to create a better everyday life at home. For 50 years, its Democratic Design principles have guided the brand’s mission to make great design accessible and help Australians transform homes into spaces that work for them.
Along the way, IKEA has delivered one of the most memorable shopping experiences available – from shoppers navigating its sprawling showroom to sparking friendly arguments in the aisles and loading up the trusty blue FRAKTA bag – all before even reaching the meatballs!
To celebrate, IKEA is throwing its biggest birthday bash yet. From Saturday 31 May to Sunday 1 June 2025, customers nationwide are invited to join IKEA in-store for a weekend of celebrations including 50% off IKEA’s iconic POÄNG armchair series, 50-cent hot dogs and more exclusive offers to come.
To celebrate 50 years in Aussie homes, IKEA commissioned new research uncovering the habits and flat-pack feats of Aussie customers:
- 87% of Aussies have visited an IKEA store at least once in their lives.
- 1 in 3 of Aussies (33%) confess to taking an IKEA pencil home after a store visit.
- Nearly 1 in 3 Aussies (31%) own the iconic blue IKEA FRAKTA bag.
- More than 1 in 3 Aussies (35%) have gotten lost in an IKEA store.
- Over 1 in 10 (11%) of Aussies have argued with a friend or loved one at an IKEA store.
- 1 in 20 of Aussies (5%) have had a romantic experience at IKEA, such as going on a date.
- 8 in 10 of Aussies (81%) have owned at least 1 piece of IKEA furniture.
- On average, an Aussie has owned around 4 pieces of IKEA furniture in their lifetime.
- The average Aussie has 2.8 pieces of IKEA furniture in their homes.
- The average Aussie has assembled between 3 to 4 IKEA flat-pack furniture items in their lifetime.
- 2 in 5 of Aussies (41%) have experienced frustration or stress while assembling an IKEA flatpack.
- 2 in 3 of Aussies (66%) agree that a visit to IKEA goes beyond mere shopping – it’s an experience in itself.
Mirja Viinanen, IKEA Australia CEO and Chief Sustainability Officer says: “IKEA has been providing low-cost, high-quality furniture to Aussies since 1975, and we believe the impact we’ve had on Australian life has been immeasurable. We have created a home away from home in Australia and cannot underestimate how honoured we are to have been embraced so generously by the many people who have and continue to welcome us into their homes. What better way to thank our loyal customers, young and old, than with the bespoke, IKEA FLIP FLÖPS – a playful blend of Swedish design and the Australian love for flip flops. It’s our way of saying thank you – and a reminder that after 50 years, we’re just getting started.”
Today, IKEA operates 10 stores across Australia and employs more than 3,900 co-workers. In 2024, IKEA welcomed more than 17 million store visits, recorded over 105 million website visits and sold over 72 million products.
As an Aussie customer, to get your hands on the limited-edition IKEA FLIP FLÖPS, enter the giveaway here: https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90831062/50yearcomms.
About POÄNG sale:
IKEA is offering an unmissable 50% discount on one of its one of its most iconic products to Aussie customers, the POÄNG armchair, which launched in 1976. The famous curves of the springy POÄNG bentwood frame have been a constant feature of Australian homes for almost five decades, with research1 showing 1 in 10 Aussies (11%) have owned a POÄNG armchair. The sale is available for IKEA Family members (free to join) in-store and online from 12:00am Thursday 29 May to 11:59pm on Monday 2 June. Styles included are the traditional armchair (from $49.50, was $99), low- back version (from $64.50, was $129) and rocking chair (from $74.50, was $149), in a variety of frame and cushion colours.
About IKEA FLIP FLÖPS:
IKEA has designed the world’s first-ever flat-packed flip flops as a limited-edition item to celebrate its 50th birthday Down Under. As a thank you to Aussie customers, IKEA is giving away over 3000 free pairs of IKEA FLIP FLÖPS – an exclusive opportunity to own a piece of IKEA history with a unique Aussie twist. To win a pair, simply sign up as an IKEA Family Member (free to join) and enter the giveaway here, running from 13 May to 3 June 2025.
About Ingka Group
With IKEA retail operations in 31 markets, Ingka Group is the largest IKEA retailer and represents about 90% of IKEA retail sales. It is a strategic partner to develop and innovate the IKEA business and help define common IKEA strategies. Ingka Group owns and operates IKEA sales channels under franchise agreements with Inter IKEA Systems B.V. It has three business areas: IKEA Retail, Ingka Investments and Ingka Centres. Read more on www.Ingka.com
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