(For new reader and those who request 好友请求, please read my 公告栏 first)

Everyone in the world knows that Warren Buffet and Bill Gates are among the wealthiest person in the world.

But I bet few people also know that the owner of IKEA store (I know there is an IKEA store in Beijing and probably also in Shanghai and other big Chinese cities) is one and probably THE wealthiest person.  How can an ordinary furniture store that started less than30 years ago become such a  wealth phenomenon?  

The secret: ATTENTION TO DETAILS and LETTING CUSTOMER SHARE THE LABOR.

·        Furniture comes unassembled. Thus the parts can be packed tightly together  and warehouse storage and inventory space are minimized

·        Instructions for assembly are completely pictorial and clear. No language  problem for worldwide distribution and use.

·        Customer assembly eliminates a large cost component for the business and gives the user  a sense of accomplishment and devotion to the product

·        Steps of assembly are carefully thought out using specialized parts that only require  ability to follow direction but do not require skill, e.g., no nailing is required on structural parts.

·        The store and display are laid out with careful planning so that customers are unconsciously  exposed to clever marketing and advertisement to encourage impulse-buying.

·        A low cost but delicious cafeteria for buying customers to rest and eat at the conclusion  of shopping. Even here, the customers do much of the  serving and cleaning up themselves  without being consciously asked to do so.

The result of this relentless lowering of labor costs and attention to details  allow the selling  of quality products at  cost unmatched by competitors and  loyalty from customers.

It occurs to me that success at any endeavor including teaching and research can  learn a lot from the principles  of IKEA stores. I urge scholars in Beijing visit the IKEA  store there, purchase,  and assemble a piece of needed furniture and become  inspired.