Ekornes
Corporate brand
UnclaimedNorwegian furniture group best known internationally for its Stressless recliners and sofas.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Ekornes is a Norwegian furniture manufacturer and brand group whose best-known international business is Stressless, a range of recliners, sofas and related comfort furniture. The company traces its origins to 1934, when Jens E. Ekornes established a furniture manufacturing operation in the Sunnmøre region of western Norway. Its development reflects the industrial tradition of Norwegian furniture making: a combination of functional design, ergonomic experimentation, engineering-led production and an emphasis on durable materials. The Stressless brand became the central pillar of Ekornes's international identity. Introduced in the early 1970s, Stressless recliners were designed around the movement of the human body, with mechanisms intended to support comfortable sitting and reclining without requiring extensive manual adjustment. The concept helped Ekornes move beyond a primarily Norwegian manufacturing identity and build distribution in overseas markets, particularly Europe and North America. Stressless products are commonly sold through specialist furniture retailers and dedicated brand spaces rather than only through mass-market channels. Ekornes has also operated other furniture and sleep-related brands. Svane is associated with mattresses and beds, while IMG has represented a complementary portfolio of recliners, sofas and other upholstered furniture. Across these businesses, the group has focused on upholstered seating, motion furniture, sleep products and home-comfort categories. Its product proposition combines Scandinavian-inspired visual restraint with functional features such as adjustable reclining, integrated foot support, head and lumbar support, and engineered motion systems. The company historically operated as a publicly traded Norwegian enterprise. In 2018, Qumei Home Furnishings Group completed an acquisition of Ekornes, taking the company private and making it part of a larger Chinese furniture group. Ekornes continues to operate from Norway while serving international markets through manufacturing, sales and distribution activities. The corporate group remains most visible to consumers through the Stressless name, which functions as its principal global consumer brand. Ekornes's market positioning is therefore based less on low-cost furniture and more on branded comfort, ergonomics, design heritage and manufacturing expertise. Its principal competitive challenge is to preserve the perceived quality and Scandinavian provenance associated with Stressless while managing international production, retail distribution, changing consumer preferences and competition from other premium motion-furniture and upholstery manufacturers.
History
Ekornes began in 1934 in western Norway under the direction of Jens E. Ekornes. The business developed within the manufacturing environment of Sunnmøre, a region with a strong tradition of furniture production and export-oriented industrial companies. Its early identity was that of a Norwegian furniture manufacturer, but the company gradually built a distinctive position through product engineering and comfort-focused design. The major turning point came with the development of Stressless seating. Introduced in the early 1970s, the recliner used a mechanically responsive design intended to follow the sitter's movements and provide support in multiple positions. Rather than treating the recliner as a purely utilitarian chair, Ekornes presented it as a designed piece of home furniture. This combination of ergonomics, adjustability and Scandinavian styling allowed the Stressless name to become the company's most important consumer-facing brand. During the following decades, Ekornes expanded the Stressless range from individual recliners into sofas and coordinated living-room furniture. International distribution grew, particularly in European and North American markets, where premium recliners and motion furniture were sold through furniture dealers and specialist retail channels. The company also maintained a broader portfolio, including the Svane sleep brand and additional upholstery and seating activities. These businesses gave Ekornes exposure to adjacent home-comfort categories while retaining a concentration on furniture rather than becoming a general household-goods conglomerate. Ekornes was listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange for much of its modern corporate history. Public-company status supported expansion and provided a formal market valuation for a business whose sales increasingly depended on international brand recognition. The group continued to manufacture in Norway while also developing an international commercial and production footprint. Its reputation rested on the Stressless product concept, manufacturing consistency, dealer relationships and the association of the brand with Norwegian or Scandinavian design values. In 2014, Ekornes acquired International Mattress Group, commonly known as IMG, adding another upholstered-furniture and recliner business to the group. The transaction broadened Ekornes's portfolio and international reach, especially in markets where IMG already had recognition. Ekornes subsequently became the subject of a major takeover by Qumei Home Furnishings Group. Qumei's acquisition was completed in 2018, and Ekornes ceased to be an independently listed Norwegian company. It continued as an operating furniture group under new ownership rather than being absorbed into a consumer brand with no separate identity. In its current form, Ekornes is best understood as a Norwegian-origin furniture group with a global premium-comfort proposition. Stressless remains the principal international brand, while Svane and IMG represent additional businesses and product capabilities. The company operates in a competitive market shaped by housing cycles, discretionary spending, retailer economics, material costs, logistics and the continuing demand for furniture that combines comfort with compact, contemporary design.
- 2018
Qumei completes the acquisition
[2]Qumei Home Furnishings Group completes its acquisition of Ekornes, taking the company private.
- 2014
IMG joins the group
[2]Ekornes acquires International Mattress Group, expanding its upholstered seating and recliner portfolio.
- 1971
Stressless is introduced
[2]Ekornes launches the Stressless recliner concept, built around responsive motion and ergonomic support.
- 1934
Ekornes is established
[1]Jens E. Ekornes establishes the Norwegian furniture business that develops into Ekornes.
Products and positioning
Premium Scandinavian-inspired furniture focused on ergonomic comfort, motion seating, upholstered living-room products and sleep solutions.
Recliners and upholstered furniture · 1971
Stressless
Stressless is Ekornes's principal international consumer brand. It is known for recliners with engineered movement, adjustable support and integrated footrests, as well as coordinated sofas and other living-room furniture. The range is positioned in the premium segment and is distributed largely through furniture specialists and authorized retailers. Product families vary by silhouette, upholstery, base and motion features, but share the brand's central emphasis on comfortable seating and Scandinavian-inspired design.
Mattresses and beds
Svane
Svane is Ekornes's sleep-focused brand, associated with mattresses, beds and related sleep products. Its role broadens the group beyond seating into bedroom comfort while retaining a focus on product construction, support and Norwegian design heritage. Availability and assortment may differ by market, with the brand having particular historical importance in Norway and Nordic markets.
Recliners and sofas
IMG
IMG, originally International Mattress Group, is a furniture business associated with recliners, motion seating, sofas and other upholstered products. It became part of Ekornes through the 2014 acquisition. IMG complements Stressless by providing another product architecture and market presence in upholstered furniture, particularly in international dealer networks.
Brand decisions
2018
Sale to Qumei Home Furnishings GroupM&ABackground
Ekornes was a publicly traded Norwegian furniture company when Qumei proposed a takeover.
Action taken
Qumei Home Furnishings Group completed the acquisition of Ekornes and took the company private.
Aftermath
Ekornes became part of Qumei's furniture operations and was no longer independently listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange.
2014
Acquisition of International Mattress GroupM&ABackground
Ekornes sought to broaden its portfolio and international presence in upholstered furniture and recliners.
Action taken
The company acquired International Mattress Group, known as IMG.
Aftermath
IMG became part of the Ekornes group and added another furniture brand and product platform.
Recent events
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