Jysk A/S is a renowned Danish retail chain that offers a wide range of household goods including mattresses, furniture, and interior décor. With over 3,100 stores in 51 countries, Jysk has become the largest Danish retailer operating on an international scale[^1^]. Founded in April 1979 by Lars Larsen, Jysk started its journey with the opening of its first store in Aarhus, Denmark[^2^]. Over the years, it has grown exponentially and is now owned by the Lars Larsen Group, which also encompasses other furniture chains such as ILVA, IDÉmøbler, IDdesign, Bolia.com, and Sengespecialisten[^3^].
Jysk's success can be attributed to its commitment to Scandinavian design and quality, which has earned it the nickname "the Danish IKEA in a small format"[^5^]. The brand's logo, featuring a goose, has a historical significance that ties into its identity[^4^]. Being a purveyor to the Queen of Denmark adds further credibility to Jysk's reputation[^12^].
The company's expansion spans across several continents, with stores situated in various countries such as Canada, Vietnam, United Arab Emirates, Thailand, and many more. Let's take a visual journey through some of Jysk's exciting store locations:
Jysk store in Zagreb, Croatia
Jysk store in Hungary
Jysk store in Groningen, Netherlands
Jysk store in Sweden
Jysk store in Tårnby, Denmark
Jysk store in Norway
Jysk store in Lithuania
Jysk store in Riihimäki, Finland
Jysk store in Slovakia
Jysk store in Oulu, Finland
Jysk store in Dresden, Germany
Jysk in Pontefract, United Kingdom
A Journey through Jysk's History
1979-1989
Jysk kicked off its operations on April 2, 1979, with the opening of the world's first Jysk Sengetøjslager in Aarhus, Denmark, which continues to operate to this day[^6^].
During this period, Jysk expanded beyond Denmark, with the launch of its first store in Germany and Greenland and the opening of its first store in the Faroe Islands[^7^].
1990-1999
The 1990s witnessed Jysk's entry into new markets. The company opened its first store in Finland, and in 1996, it established its presence in Canada with the opening of its first store in Coquitlam, British Columbia[^8^]. This decade also marked the celebration of the opening of Jysk's 500th store.
2000-2009
Jysk continued its international expansion in the new millennium. In 2000, the company opened its first store in Poland, and a year later, stores in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland underwent a rebranding, adopting the name Jysk. Hungary welcomed its first Jysk store in 2004, while 2008 saw the opening of Jysk stores in the United Kingdom[^9^].
2010-2019
In 2010, Jysk was honored with a royal warrant of appointment as a purveyor to the Queen of Denmark. The company's staff magazine, GO JYSK, also received recognition and awards during this period[^10^].
Jysk entered the Caucasus region in 2013 with the opening of its first store in Yerevan, Armenia[^12^]. Indonesia became another destination for Jysk's expansion, with the opening of stores in Jakarta. Singapore witnessed the opening of Jysk's first stores in 2016, along with the launch of stores in Belarus, Tajikistan, and Tbilisi[^14^][^15^].
2020-present
Recent developments include the rebranding of Jysk stores in Austria and Germany, and the rebranding of Rúmfatalagerinn to Jysk in Iceland[^27^][^28^][^29^].
However, due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Jysk made the difficult decision to permanently close its stores in Russia and exit the market[^30^][^31^].
Jysk Stores: A Medium-Format Approach
Jysk stores are typically medium-sized, with an average area of 1,300 m² (14,000 sq ft)[^32^]. The company operates through three entities: Jysk Nordic, Dänisches Bettenlager, and Jysk-Franchise[^33^]. Jysk Nordic manages over 1,500 stores across 20 countries, while Dänisches Bettenlager oversees more than 1,300 stores in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal[^33^]. Additionally, Jysk has franchise agreements worldwide, with over 200 stores located in various countries including Canada, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Tajikistan, Thailand, and Vietnam[^33^].
Conclusion
Jysk's journey from a single store in Denmark to becoming an international retail chain with thousands of stores worldwide is a testament to its success. With its focus on Scandinavian design and commitment to quality, Jysk continues to offer customers around the globe a wide range of household goods. Whether you're in need of a new mattress or stylish furniture, Jysk is sure to have something to suit your taste and needs.
References
[^1^]: Jysk A/S. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jysk [^2^]: Jysk A/S. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jysk [^3^]: Jysk A/S. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jysk [^4^]: Jysk A/S. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jysk [^5^]: Jysk A/S. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jysk [^6^]: Jysk A/S. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jysk [^7^]: Jysk A/S. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jysk [^8^]: Jysk A/S. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jysk [^9^]: Jysk A/S. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jysk [^10^]: Jysk A/S. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jysk [^12^]: Jysk A/S. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jysk [^14^]: Jysk A/S. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jysk [^15^]: Jysk A/S. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jysk [^27^]: Jysk A/S. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jysk [^28^]: Jysk A/S. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jysk [^29^]: Jysk A/S. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jysk [^30^]: Jysk A/S. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jysk [^31^]: Jysk A/S. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jysk [^32^]: Jysk A/S. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jysk [^33^]: Jysk A/S. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jysk
