Image: Inter IKEA Systems B.V.
Ingvar Kamprad, founder and former chief executive of home furnishings giant IKEA,
is a notorious tightwad who drives a second-hand Volvo. His house in
Lausanne, Switzerland, though hidden behind a high hedge, is said to be
surprisingly unremarkable. He does indulge in winemaking at his small
vineyard in Provence, but has been known to complain that it’s an
expensive hobby.
“Home of the Billionaires”
FORBES
Related link: Mr. Kamprad’s profile.
People
Lily sent us this link to an MSN blog. Looks like somebody in the Far East assembled herself a nice bedroom:
View the slide show.
Projects
PF volunteer correspondent Curtis Carroll sent us these “drive by” shots of the new IKEA store under construction in West Sacramento, Califormia:
I went out and got three photos for you this morning. One from I-80 eastbound showing the west side of the building.”
“The other two from the traffic circle at the edge of the parking lot.”
Photos by Curtis Carroll. Thank you Sir!
Update 12.27.05
Reminder: We are getting lots of emails inquiring about jobs at IKEA. Wish we could help but Positive Fanatics is not officially affiliated with IKEA. Please direct your applications to their corporate site/offices. Good luck! 
Store Openings
Ikea says it’s seeking top talent and diversity
The Ikea construction site in West Sacramento is booming – 265,000 square
feet of concrete floors framed by blue and yellow walls, soon to be filled with
furniture and furnishings for the hip and stylish masses.
At the West Sacramento project recently, men in hard hats sent sparks
flying at a circular saw, while others installed shelving from floor to ceiling,
a massive undertaking in itself.
A few of the workers did a double-take when
Lydia Gartrell strode by. She didn’t seem to notice, probably because Ikea’s
construction manager been mistaken for someone else – for something else – much
of her working life.
As a fashionable woman in an industry of hard hats
and dirty fingernails, Gartrell is accustomed to being underestimated. “I’ve had
people think I’m somebody’s assistant,” said Gartrell when asked about past
cases of mistaken identity. “I’m used to it.
“A quiet role model: Having a black woman in charge shows the construction field is changing”
By Blair Anthony Robertson
Sacramento Bee
Photo: Sacramento Bee/Paul Kitagaki Jr.
Store Openings
My room
By Cemre Güngör, Kauhava, Finland
Some rights reserved.
View the full-sized image at FLICKR
Projects
Monday cuteness attack!
“@ IKEA”
By Moriza at IKEA Lovers/FLICKR.
Some rights reserved.
People
“‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house.
Not a
creature was stirring, not even a mouse…”
“Paxon” by MarionQuaggatuggu
IKEA Lovers/FLICKR.
© All rights reserved. Used with permission. (Yes Marion, its the right thing to do
Related link: IKEA for the pets.
…
Special shoutout to Curtis and William who are watching the construction of the new IKEA store in West Sacramento, CA. Anybody from Canton, MI.? Volunteer correspondents wanted. Apply within.
Thanks to Rob Walker, Core 77, Mary Alice Bier and Samantha Gravina of IKEA Chicago; Jen Segrest of OHIKEA and Steve Rubel for getting us off to a great start. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all. See you on Tuesday.
Pets
“He gives his harness bells a shake,
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep,
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.”
From “Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening”
by Robert Frost
…
“The Carolers”
Image © 2002 A.B.F. All Rights Reserved/Also posted at Moleskinerie.com
*OUTSIDE THE BOX. An occasional series of thoughts and images. A breathing space. Because we can’t be shopping all the time:) Submissions are welcome.
OUTSIDE THE BOX
“Without giving away more than the title already does, the 2-act anthology of
holiday sketches satirizes, as always, the shallow values that corrupt most
Americans during the shopping season. With Christmas and its yuletide traditions
as the backdrop for the cast to throw its punches, this year’s guilty capitalist
is Mall of America’s new neighbor, Ikea. Through songs, skits, and all the
expected group mayhem, Ikea captures contemporary consumerism with impeccable
timing; it didn’t take long to catch on to the hidden truths of Ikea and its
followers that we, the normal/dull wits of the world, fail to see–or acknowledge
aloud anyway. For example, Ikea is cheap. Okay: in itself, not so funny, but
when BNW weaves that concept into a song and dance number with Oompa Loompa
take-offs donning sky blue Ikea bags around the midriff, it’s darn funny. What
makes this collection especially funny is the timing, the accuracy, and most of
all, the total conviction that allows each cast member to keep a straight face.
Nothing matters more than the wonderful world of Kerndnasdixmfa. True, but not.
This makes us laugh, as does the tremendous group of talent who serve as the
couriers of all this glee…”
Reviewed by Roxanne Sadovsky
A VERY IKEA CHRISTMAS
or: Some Assembly Required
Written and Performed by
Corey Anderson, Lauren Anderson, Katy
McEwen,
Jim Robinson, and Jason Tomalia
Directed by Caleb McEwen
Brave
New Workshop
November
19-January 15, 2005
LINK
Humor
Blogging Baby has a wish list of kid-friendly items available at IKEA.
” I love IKEA for kid-related items. You can’t beat it for cheap…everything! Yes,
there are some quality issues, and they can often be out of stock on items you
want, but in general, I’ve been happy with all my IKEA purchases. It’s the first
place I turn for whimsical products with kid-appeal that won’t break the bank.
Here are some of my baby and child favorites—all under $20—from IKEA. If you
live near an IKEA, perhaps some of these items are already on your holiday list…”
Blogging Baby
Visit.
Weblogs
