“He has been hailed as "the ultimate democratizer of good design, the man who popularized modernism, and the man who most shaped contemporary taste". In 1964 he opened his first Habitat store, the internatiaonl chain of cheap and cheerful home furnishings that was sold in 90 to Ikea's parent company. "he created a retailing template that has been copied around the globe, from Crate and Barrel and Pottery Barn to Target, and launched a new era of design accessibility. " He is now the owner of 8 upscale Conran shops, a restauranteur who pioneered the use of fresh, locally grown ingredients, a hotelier (he co-owns Great Eastern in London) His architectural firm, Conran and Partners is creating huge housing coplexes in England and Japan. He's also the founder of a museum, a furiture designer and manufactuer, a publisher and author of dozens of books. ”
