Partner Interview with Ebba Mistander, Head of IKEA for Business
OFFICIAL PARTNER
IKEA has been an important partner to Bünsow Business Growth Forum and Unga Bünsow for several years. What initially made you want to become part of the forum?
At IKEA for Business, we chose to participate in Bünsow to further share our vision: “to create a better everyday life for the many people.” The many people work at the many companies, from small local businesses to large corporations. By reaching them not only in their home life but also in their work life, we can better fulfill our vision. At Bünsow, we wanted to create a welcoming and inspiring environment where companies and the business community can collaborate and strengthen the region’s development.
One of your biggest contributions to Bünsow Week is furnishing parts of the City Hall, especially the stage and speaker area—something that truly sets the tone for the forum. How does the process work when you plan these environments?
Before the event, we have a kickoff meeting with the Bünsow project manager to discuss wishes and needs. Our business interior designers consider how the venue looks, what has worked or not worked in previous years, whether there is a theme or specific requests from Bünsow, the time of year, color coordination, etc. Then the designer starts sketching and planning the agreed areas. In 2025, we decided to embrace autumn and go for “less but better.” Since the venue is large and grand, decorations can easily disappear in the space. We are pleased with this year’s implementation, where we not only showcased our interior design expertise but also met the need for an environment that suits the City Hall.
This year, you created a cozy lounge area where guests could network and relax. What feeling do you want visitors to have when they enter a room designed by IKEA?
We wanted the atmosphere to feel a bit luxurious, cozy, and inviting—family-like yet stylish. Everything should connect seamlessly, from Bünsow’s logo and website to the interior experience on-site. We worked with pumpkins, gold, green, and dark wood, using only green plants and adding extra lighting. We want people to feel at home in our design.
What do you see as the biggest opportunities for IKEA to continue growing in the region in the coming years?
For IKEA for Business, participating in Bünsow was an opportunity to be part of the region’s development and strengthen our visibility to build new contacts and long-term relationships. We want to reach the many people with our services and assortment, so connections and long-term relationships are our greatest opportunity. We see ourselves as a major player in the market—both as an employer and as a destination for home furnishing.