Petra Hesser, 50, Ikea's German chief, said women are better skilled at assembling the company's signature flatback furniture because "men never look at the directions and have the most problems with construction because they always think they can do that," The Local reported Monday.

"The woman first sorts the parts in an orderly way. Men throw them in a pile and then,something goes missing," she said. "That is empirically proven."

Hesser estimated that women make up 40 percent of the furniture giant's customer base, but men often accompany their female friends and family to give approval for larger purchases.

However, "if the woman is against buying something, then nothing gets done," she said.