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BILLY

the world’s most versatile bookcase

turns 30!

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BILLY turns 30! When it all began in 1979, no one in their wildest dreams could have imagined what a success it would be. Since then, the world’s most versatile bookcase has moved into the homes of millions of people all over the world. Happy birthday, BILLY!

Gillis Lundgren, the designer

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BILLY limited editions

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The world’s most versatile bookcase

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41,000,000 – and counting

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Bold and Beautiful Change the Door, Change the Look

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Your Own Unique Billy

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Shine on BILLY

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30 years of BILLY history

BILLY bookcase in black-brown40x202, $79.99, 80x202, $115.99. Designer: Gillis Lundgren BENNO CD tower in black-brown, $49.99. Designer: IKEA of Sweden BILLY Byom door 40x98 in black-brown, $45.00. Designer: IKEA of Sweden

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30 years of BILLY history 1979 BILLY, launched in oak and pine, makes its debut in IKEA stores around the world.

BENNO TV bench with panel in Medium Brown, $199.99. Designer: IKEA of Sweden BILLY bookcase in medium brown 40x202, $79.99, 80x202, $115.99. Designer: Gillis Lundgren KOLDBY cowhide, $299.99.

1988

1980 BILLY, now also in white, makes his first of many appearances in the IKEA Catalogue and quickly becomes a favourite in many homes.

1993

1995

BILLY is now also available in cherry.

BILLY starts being sold also in birch veneer.

2000

2003

Just in time for the new millennium, BILLY has sold over 10 million bookcases.

BILLY also starts being sold in blackbrown.

More than 1 million BILLY bookcases have been sold since the beginning. This year BILLY also becomes available in a new size when 90 cm becomes 80 cm.

1992 BILLY with glass doors as an optional extra is launched, as is BILLY in antique stain.

1996

1999

BILLY gets a best friend, BENNO, specially designed for CDs, videos and DVDs. The BILLY corner bookcase is launched.

Three new versions of BILLY appear: silver, medium brown and dark brown.

2004 BILLY has sold a quite incredible 20 million. BILLY 60 cm wide becomes BILLY 40 cm wide.

2007 BILLY gets a girlfriend, BERGSBO, for larger and wider books.

2009 BILLY, the world’s best bookcase, reaches 30 years of age and more than 41 million bookcases have been sold. This year’s news includes an exiting limited edition!

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Billy Designer: Gillis Lundgren Developer of IKEA’s Flat Pack Concept Swedish-born Gillis Lundgren designed

“Not everyone lives in the same type

the BILLY bookcase in 1979. Ever

of home. Some have very little space,

since, his masterpiece has grown

some have more. But BILLY fits in

bigger and better!

everywhere with its different heights and widths, wood types and colours.

IKEA Start: Gillis joined IKEA in

“You might say there’s always a place

1953. Initially hired to manage the

for BILLY, whether it’s the living room

IKEA Catalogue, he moved on to

or an unassuming little corner in the

design some of IKEA’s most loved

hall, or wherever there’s a free space.”

products and become IKEA’s first design manager.

Apart from being the father of BILLY, Gillis Lundgren also developed the

Design Philosophy: “At the end of

idea of the flat pack. The brainwave

the day, I design for the many people.

came one day when he and Ingvar

I want to make solutions for everyday

Kamprad were packing up after a

life, based on people’s needs. All my

photo shoot. He simply unscrewed

products are simple, practical and

the legs from LÖVET, and laid them

timeless. They should be useful, no

under the table-top. Ingvar Kamprad

matter how old you are, or what your

thought that was a great idea, and

life situation is.”

ever since then flat-pack furniture that customers put together themselves

Gillis remembers how BILLY first

has been part of the IKEA concept.

saw the light of day. “I drew the first sketches on a napkin. That was often the way we worked. Ideas are perishable and you have to capture the moment as soon as it arrives,” he says. Gillis Lundgren together with BILLY. 3

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BILLY Limited Editions We wanted to pay homage to the world’s best bookcase on its birthday. But it had to be with something quite special. Something unique, that didn’t exist before. So we asked some fine designers to help. The result are available in limited editions only. And when they’re gone, they’re gone. So perhaps they’ll be antiques in years to come…?

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BILLY book-end, H15cm $5.00/each, H23cm $8.00/each.

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Designers: Knut Hagberg and Marianne Hagberg

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BILLY book-ends

BILLY Limited editions

“BILLY book-ends have been made to celebrate the 30th birthday of BILLY bookcase. Our idea when we designed them was to make playful book-ends in several different colours and in two

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sizes to fit both large and small books. The fact that BILLY is getting on in years is symbolized by the leaning B. It’s up to you to decide what the letter

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1. BILLY JÄDER glass doors, $60.00. Designer: Annika Bryngelson 2. BILLY JÄDER bookcase, $99.99. Black/patterned, Orange/patterned, or Green/patterned. Designer: Annika Bryngelson

stands for – BILLY, books, bookworm or…” Designer: Marianne Hagberg

3. BILLY BJÄSTA bookcase, $99.99. Designer: Annika Bryngelson

4. BILLY KIABY glass door, $65.00. Designers: Knut Hagberg & Marianne Hagberg 5. BILLY book-end, H15cm $5.00/each, H23cm $8.00/each. Designers: Knut Hagberg & Marianne Hagberg

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Designer: Annika Bryngelson BILLY JÄDER ”BILLY JÄDER bookcase is created specially to celebrate the 30th birthday of BILLY bookcase. When I designed the pattern I had a young, romantic kind of guy in mind and that’s why I used quotations from William Shakespeare’s love sonnets. There’s plenty of strong emotions, love and heartache – yet the pattern is still cool with its graffiti-inspired look.”

BILLY JÄDER bookcase, $99.99. Black/patterned, Orange/patterned, or Green/patterned.

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BILLY BJÄSTA

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Close up of BILLY JÄDER pattern.

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“How does a colourful, trend-conscious young girl want her BILLY bookcase to look? That was my starting point when I created the pattern on BILLY BJÄSTA bookcase. To celebrate the 30th birthday of BILLY, I wanted to make a practical piece of furniture that was also a work of art that makes you feel happy. My inspiration came from Japanese manga, which I transformed into something like furniture graffiti. My hope is that the girl I had in mind really loves the bookcase. Just like I do!” Designer: Annika Bryngelson Close up of BILLY BJÄSTA pattern.

BILLY BJÄSTA bookcase, $99.99.

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The World’s Most Versatile Bookcase We thought BILLY was just a bookcase. Our customers proved us wrong… It’s been perfected for books. But in real life, BILLY has plenty of space for other things. Bottom line, there is no right or wrong. BILLY is a “I know my sketchbook is here somewhere.”

“Sure, I’m a bookworm – and proud of it!”

“It’s like a window to my outdoor life”

“The best thing about travelling is coming home again.”

“No, I don’t actually wear them. I just love looking at them.”

“I call it my cookcase.”

“Music for my ears, candy for my eyes!”

book-case for every passion!

“Can you keep a secret?”

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41,000,000 – and Counting 41 million BILLY bookcases have been made since 1979. If you laid them all out in a line, the line would be over 70,000 kilometres long. That’s a distance equivalent to almost twice around the world at the equator. Smart Solutions, Lower Price Since BILLY was first launched 30 years ago, continuous product development combined with more efficient production methods as well as increasing volumes has allowed us to make BILLY even more affordable. Since the start, we’ve reduced the price by more than 30% in today’s monetary value!

BILLY bookcase 40x202 in white, $49.99. Designer: Gillis Lundgren EKTORP armchair in Blekinge white, $399.99. Designer: IKEA of Sweden

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Bold and Beautiful Want to make a statement? BILLY comes in bright colours like fire-engine red and royal blue. The perfect piece to

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make an otherwise-neutral room come to life.

BILLY bookcase in red, $69.99. Designer: Gillis Lundgren BENNO CD tower in red, $39.99. Designer: IKEA of Sweden

BILLY bookcase in blue, $69.99. Designer: Gillis Lundgren

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Change the Door, Change the Look

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Doors are a great way to dress up your BILLY.

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Choose from solid, glass and etched designs.

Limited edition BILLY KIABY doors, $65.00. Designers: K Hagberg & M Hagberg

BILLY KIABY “The idea behind BILLY KIABY glass doors is that you can use them to easily renew BILLY bookcase. Perhaps you’d like to move your bookcases to another room with a different décor – with new doors you can make use of what you have and give the bookcases a new life. The glass doors have a modern, minimalist look that matches BILLY. You get dust-free storage – at the same time as you can see what’s in the bookcase.” BILLY NYCKELBY floral patterned glass door, $75.00. Designer: Monika Mulder

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Your Own Unique BILLY BILLY lets you express your own personal style with the MOREBO door. This glass door has a panel and acts like a frame – for fabric, wallpaper or whatever you choose! Try it out to coordinate your

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bookshelves with the rest of your home. A true style statement.

LENA fabric, $6.99/metre. Designer: Sven Fristedt BILLY MOREBO door, $50.00. Designer: IKEA of Sweden

BENNO CD tower, $49.99. Designer: IKEA of Sweden BILLY bookcase in birch veneer, $115.99. Designer: Gillis Lundgren BILLY MOREBO glass door, $75.00. Designer: IKEA of Sweden FREDRIKA fabric, $5.99/metre. Designer: Helen Trast

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Shine on BILLY Lighting is key. IKEA has tons of options to illuminate

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your books, bowls and photos.

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GRUNDTAL cabinet lighting stainless steel, $24.99. Designer: Mikael Warnhammar

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INREDA bookcase/picture light, $19.99. Designer: Tord Björklund

BILLY BILLY BILLY BILLY

BYOM glass door 40X35, $25.00, glass door 40x194, $60.00. Designer: IKEA of Sweden bookcase 40X202, $49.99, 80X202, $69.99. Designer: Gillis Lundgren BYOM solid door 40X98, $35.00 Designer: IKEA of Sweden height extension unit 40X35, $20.99, 80X35, $35.99. Designer: IKEA of Sweden

INREDA cabinet lighting aluminium-colour, $24.99. Designer: IKEA of Sweden

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MEDIA CONTACTS Madeleine Löwenborg-Frick National Public Relations Manager IKEA Canada T: 905-637-9440 x6378 [email protected] Tamara Robbins Griffith National Public Relations Specialist IKEA Canada T: 905-637-9440 x6237 [email protected] Images and product loans are available for editorial credit. Please contact: Stephanie Smith National Product Loans Specialist c/o IKEA Etobicoke T: 416-646-8182 x2305 [email protected]

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